Eldon White Pipe

Funeral services for Eldon White Pipe were held on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, with Reverend Patty White Horse officiating.

Barb Durfee and Betty Olsen were in charge of registration.

Casket bearers were Kevin Abourezk, Jason Doll, Bill Marshall, Ted Eagle Star, Todd Bearshield and Clay Beck. Honorary casket bearers were Chuck Olsen, Katina Gehrke, Scott and Shawn Harsin, Dave Beck, Russ Grim, Jason Nebola, Claude Harrison, Chantel Kingsbury, Dan Pastian, Jay Weatherill, Little Bull Mooney, Gregory Police Department Officers Darwin, Tim and Tom, Gregory EMTS/Ambulance, Avera Hospital Staff, Buche Foods staff, Steve and Julie Esterling, Tanner Feyereisen, Toby Cook, Damon Leader Charge and Herbert Sitting Crow.

Burial will be at a later date. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Eldon was born in Rosebud, SD, on January 24, 1975, to Gayle White Pipe and Chad Nielsen. He was a 1993 graduate of Gregory High School and a graduate of Sinte Gleska University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in human services. His Lakota name was Kimimila Wakan (Sacred Butterfly).

Like his grandparents, Eldon was a man of devout faith, having attended many Christian seminars and briefly considered attending seminary school himself. He made many friends with clergy throughout South Dakota and offered morning prayers at the former Gregory Episcopal Church.

Eldon will be remembered for his artistic abilities, which included drawing and playing guitar.

Eldon Charles White Pipe passed away in his home in Gregory, SD, on Sunday, July 11, 2021.

He is survived by his son Cooper Ward, father Chad Nielsen, sister Kristina Preslicka (Aaron), uncles Bryan and Gary White Pipe, aunt Lillian Middlesworth, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and his special friend Colleen Laverdure.

Eldon was preceded in death by his grandparents Charles and Lorraine White Pipe, uncles Elmer “Buzz” and Charles Jr. White Pipe and Wayne Middlesworth, aunt Judith White Pipe and mother Gayle White Pipe, Stuart Kahler, Tim Crouch and grandmother Ina Germaine.