Visitation for 53-year old Wilmer Kills Warrior Jr is Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, at the Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge, SD, with Pastor Matt Hadden officiating
Burial follows at 1:30 at St. John’s Episcopal Cemetery near Oglala, SD.
Wilmer W. “Lil Duke” Kills Warrior, Jr. was born on June 3, 1968 in Pine Ridge, SD to Wilmer Kills Warrior, Sr. and Bernadine Elk Boy. Wilmer, Jr. made his journey to the Spirit World on July 4, 2021 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Wilmer Jr, also known as “June Bug” to his extended family, attended his grade school years at Rockyford and Porcupine Schools, graduating the 8th grade at Porcupine School.
The A Team Basketball team was undefeated until they started to play freshmen teams. The first loss was to the Pine Ridge High School Freshmen team. He played against his older brother Thomas A. Kills Warrior.
Wilmer’s teammates were Tom Tuttle, Tom Thunder Hawk, Pat Afraid of Hawk Jr, and Lamar Black Bull, to name a few.
Wilmer graduated 12th grade in 1986 at Little Wound High School after playing 1st five for the Little Wound High School Mustangs in the 1985-86 basketball season and being named All-Tourney at the Lakota Nation Invitation.
In 1987, Wilmer left for Bishop, CA, where he joined the Sierra Forestry Service and became a firefighter. He returned home after a car accident and recovered from his injuries.
His uncles, brothers, cousins, and friends had an independent basketball team, the “Oblaya Warriors.”
Wilmer loved his nieces and nephews, making them laugh with crazy jokes, especially when the table was full with food to eat. Wilmer would go up to the table and hold his arms out and say, “Wow,” and dig in piling his plate up with food.
Wilmer is survived by his mother, Bernadine Elk Boy of Pine Ridge, SD; sisters, Etta Kills Warrior and Judith Kills Warrior both of Pine Ridge, SD, and Catherine Kills Warrior of Porcupine, SD; brothers, Cameron Kills Warrior of Denver, CO, and Donald and Ronald Kills Warrior both of Porcupine, SD; nephews, Delane Ghost of Pine Ridge, SD, and Donald “DJ” Kills Warrior, Jr. of Porcupine, SD; nieces, Toni Ghost and DeEtta Ghost both of Pine Ridge, SD; cousins, DeAnne Parker of Colorado Springs, CO, Sussanne Morin of Lake City, SC, Dorothy and Leah Brown Bear both Batesland, SD, Tara Brown Bear of Oklahoma, and Joy Bush of Porcupine, SD; aunts and uncles, Noreen and Ken Lone Elk, Carl Elk Boy of Porcupine, SD, and John Elk Boy of Oglala, SD; grandparents, Ben & Alvina Conquering Bear; and special friend, Margo Tschetter Julius.
Wilmer was preceded in death by his father, Wilmer Kills Warrior, Sr.; grandparents, Nelson and Christine Elk Boy; uncles, Richard and Herman Elk Boy; aunts, Anetha and Adeline Elk Boy; and his brother, Tom.
Pallbearers will be Lamar Black Bull, John Quick Bear, Sr., Delane Ghost, Donald “DJ” Kills Warrior, Jr., John “BJ” Elk Boy, Jr., Ron Archuleta, Jr., Bill Brave Heart, and Malcolm Feather Earring.
Honorary pallbearers will be Troy Red Cloud, Elgin Head, Donnie Has No Horse, Delane Has No Horse, Eldon Black Bull, Fabian Black Bull, Little Wound Class of 1986, and All Cousins, Friends, & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD