Funeral services for 30-year old Donovan Yankton Jr are Sat, March 26, 2022 at 3:00 at the Lakota Mennonite Church in Porcupine, SD, with traditional Lakota services by Greg Ross and Milton Mesteth
Burial is at the Lakota Mennonite Cemetery in Porcupine
Visitation will precede the funeral Saturday from 1:00 – 3:00, also at the Lakota Mennonite Church in Porcupine, SD
Donovan Louis Yankton Jr was born on August 8, 1991 in Pine Ridge, SD to Donovan Louis Yankton Sr and Samantha White Face. Donovan Jr made his journey to the Spirit World on March 21, 2022 in St. Paul, MN.
Donovan attended grade school at Our Lady of Lourdes and Rockyford, where he completed 8th grade. He attended high school in Flandreau from 9th to 12th grade, then graduated from Oglala Lakota College in 2020 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology.
In October of 2020, he attended the One Spirit Program in Wisconsin and then moved to Minneapolis, MN, where he was employed by Owamni Restaurant, owned by Native American Chef Shawn Sherman & Kate.
He loved his job at Owamni and loved working with his co-workers. Donovan was going to continue working at Owamni after he completed the One Spirit Program in October.
Donovan is survived by his siblings, Donna & Roxanne Yankton, Shawnee Afraid of Hawk, Samuel Fast Wolf and Billie Red Shirt; Eugene & Katana Running Hawk, DJ Kills Right, Tyler, Atalya, & Aileen White Face, and Danielle & Jamie White Face; nieces & nephews, Anthony & Jonathan, Jr. Sandoval, Louis Yankton, Elijah Running Hawk, Aliana Sandoval, Ebony Running Hawk, Sarina Tallman, and Calypso Under Baggage; grandmothers, Mari, Alberta, & Vernona Kills Right; grandfathers, Dominic Running Hawk and Lavern Yankton; uncles, Ryan Sherman, James Mesteth, Chris Kills Right, Lester Running Hawk, Leonard Yankton, Dennis Kills Right, Albert Kills Right, Jr., and Britton Kills Right; and aunties, Lori Running Hawk, Betty Fox, Michelle Leon, Danielle Kills Right, Darshann Mesteth, Ana & Cheyenne Kills Right, and Missy Kills Right; and godson, Nolan Jealous.
Donovan was preceded in death by his parents, Donovan Yankton, Sr. and Samantha White Face; grandparents, Albert Yankton, Jr., Lloyd Yankton, Sr., Richard White Face, Josephine White Face-Elk Boy, Vina Colhoff, Gertie Swain, Norman Under Baggage, Jr., Albert Kills Right, Sr., Donroy Kills Right, Sr., and Phoebe Kills Right Running Hawk; and great grandparents, Joseph Kills Right, Anna Lone Hill-Kills Right, Albert Yankton, Sr., Esther White Face, and Josephine Yankton.
Pallbearers will be Eugene Running Hawk, Ryan Sherman, Chris Kills Right, DJ Kills Right, Frankie Little, Alan Jealous, Zach Goings-Iron Cloud, Jonathan Sandoval, Anthony Sandoval, Frank Yankton, and Tyler White Face.
Honorary pallbearers will be Sean Sherman, Kate Sioux Chef & Co-workers, One Spirit.org, Sarah & Geri, Aileen & Atalya White Face, Katana Running Hawk, John Iron Boy, Ted LaPointe, Troy Iron Cloud, Esther Iron Cloud, Sharon Martin, Lavern Yankton, Chrysan Smallwood, Garell Little & Family, Bobby Twiss, Chance Gomez, Clayton Lafferty, Darla Black, Vina Yankton & Family, Betty, Cathy, Angel, & Diggo White Face; Bianas Family, Soldier Wolf Family, Hornbeck Family, White Face Family, White Hawk Family, LaDeaux Family, Ross Family, Wounded Head Family, Running Hawk Family, Lone Hill Family, and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD