Funeral services for 87-year old William Giago are Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 11:00 at the Red Cloud Indian School Gymnasium, 100 Mission Drive in Pine Ridge, SD, with traditional Lakota services by Mr James Star Comes Out and Mr Ty Lunderman
Burial is at the Holy Rosary Mission Catholic Cemetery in Pine Ridge
There will be a meal back at Red Cloud Indian School following the burial.
A one-night wake service will be held Sat, July 9, beginning at 2:00 at the Red Cloud Indian School Gym
William Joseph Giago “Wakinyan Wamni Omni” was born on June 5, 1935 to Joseph Giago and Clara Irving Giago, the eldest of 11 children on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota as a proud member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe. William made his journey to the Spirit World on June 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV.
William met and married his wife, Alicia Bailey Giago, and they were together until her passing in 2010. Together they had five children: Christina (Carl) Scherkenbach, Madonna (Edward) Licht, David Joseph GIago, Annemarie (Michael) Tucker, and Ramona (Kelly) Goodsell.
William’s post-high school education took him to Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas and the University of South Dakota. He obtained his Masters Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University and was a clinical social worker for various indigenous tribes until his retirement with Alicia in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
William’s education and work took his family from Pine Ridge, Vermillion, SD, Phoenix, Brigham City, UT, Tempe, AZ, and Lake Havasu City.
William’s final home after Alicia’s passing was with Christina and Carl in Las Vegas, where they so very patiently cared for him until the time of his passing due to age.
William was preceded in death by his wife, Alicia Giago; his parents, Joseph and Clara GIago; sister, Joann (Robert) Sakiestewa; and brother, Michael (Donna Shangreau) Giago.
William is survived by his children Christina (Carl) Scherkenbach, Madonna (Edward) Licht, David Joseph Giago, Annemarie (Michael) Tucker, and Ramona (Kelly) Goodsell; grandchildren Carrie (Zack Barbee) McKinney, John McKinney Jr, Aaron (Karla) McMorran, Logan Tucker, Tristan Tucker, and Nicholas Goodsell; and great-grandchildren Aaron McMorran II and Lyla Barbee.
William is also survived by his siblings Robert (Judy-deceased) Giago, Yvonne (Floyd-deceased) Reynolds, Theresa (John) Tibbitts, and Mary (David-deceased); and nieces & nephews, Patrick (Lucy) Giago, Loretta (Dwayne) Pourier, Warren (Penny) Giago, and Eugene (Cindy) Giago.
Pallbearers will be Paul Giago, Aaron McMorran, Logan Tucker, Nicholas Goodsell, John Henry Clifford, Vince Brewer, Jayden Giago, Warren Giago, Jr., and Tristan Tucker.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Richard and Ethleen Two Dogs, The Medicine Horse Tiyospaye, The Knife Chief Tiyospaye, Melvin (Dick) Brewer, Charles Zimiga, Verdell Long Soldier, Tom Short Bull, Carl Scherkenbach, The Oglala Community School Boy’s Dormitory Students, The Colhoff Family, The Janis Family, The Irving Family, The Mary Iron Cloud Family, The Brewer Family, The Clifford Family, Angie Clifford and Percy White Plume Family, Levita Bark and Family, The Garnette Family, The Ferguson Family, The Vocu Family, The Stands Family, The Big Crow Family, The Sakiestewa Family, The Apple Family, The Billy Mills Family, The Tobacco Family, The Carlow Family, The Crazy Thunder Family, The Cecilia Fire Thunder Family, The Ponds Family, The Lone Hill Family, Pinky Plume and Family, The White Eyes Family, and All Friends & Relatives.
The family would like to thank Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas, NV, for allowing their father to pass proudly and with dignity, and for their support of those left behind.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD