Tehjalyn White Pipe

Funeral services for Tehjalyn White Pipe were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, South Dakota, with Father Ron Garry and Father Jim LaFontaine concelebrating. Music was provided by Katie Opp, pianist and Jared Opp, cantor, with the Gregory High School Choir performing “Hallelujah” and Gabriel Red Kettle singing the Song of Sending Forth. Lectors were Liz Cihak, Carrie Howard, and Ronda Graber. Madisan Graber and Ryler Stevicks were the altar servers, and Erica Howard was in charge of registration. Gift bearers were Brynn Bearshield and Addyson DuFrane. Casket Bearers were Noah Stukel, Brock Parkis, Dawsyn Kahler, Zaysyn Whipple, Shaun Farinas, Roland LaPointe, and Zaivin Whipple.

Honorary Casket Bearers were Iliyah Crow Eagle, Caroline Decory, Ted Eagle Star, Michael Chasing Hawk, Maleyah Krogman, Ariseli Whipple, Faith Gedaria, Liv Two Lance, Addison Anderson, Kitana Chasing Hawk, Mileena Chasing Hawk, Maya Hull, Mia Haines, Miley Janak, Ellyse Grage, George Timanus, Hayden Odegard, Sarah Odegard, teachers Hillary Sherwood and Stacee Valandra, Father Jim, Sapa Un staff, Mrs. Kurt, and the freshman teachers and class.

Interment was at Hillview Cemetery in Dallas, South Dakota. Tehjalyn LaRose White Pipe, whose Lakota name was Wambli Oyate Win, was born in Sioux Falls on September 3, 2009, to Lisa White Pipe. Although she lived a short time, Tehja led an interesting life and learned so much in her 15 years on earth. She attended Head Start in Rosebud, SD, and then went to school for kindergarten through second grade at Rosebud Elementary while waiting for an opening to attend Sapa Un Catholic Academy in St. Francis, SD, where she completed third through eighth grades, graduating from the eighth grade in May of 2024. While attending school, Tehja had the blessing of being able to stay with her beloved Grandma Nellie during the school week, and after her grandma’s passing, she appreciated the opportunity to stay with her Aunt Amanda and build her relationship with her young cousins.

In the fall of 2024, Tehja took on a new adventure and started her high school career at Gregory High School. She enjoyed being a member of the chorus and was actively involved with the school play where she was preparing with the cast for their upcoming performance in May.

Tehja was incredibly creative and exquisitely artistic. She was not only an artist through drawings, but she was also an amazing poet and speaker. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was quick-witted with hilarious, well-timed comments and comebacks. In addition, she loved playing the video games Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2, Walking Dead, Sims 4, Life is Strange, Roblox, and What Remains of Edith Finch on her Xbox and talking to her friends, including the many friends she had stayed connected to from Sapa Un and her new friends she had made in Gregory. An avid reader, Tehja loved the book The Outsiders and the movie based on the book.

Tehja had a soft heart and loved all animals dearly, taking in strays to make into pets, and lovingly cared for her three pets at home, Coco, Scar, and Firefly. She was a beautiful, old soul with intelligence beyond her years and will be missed by all who knew her.

Tehja passed away on April 13, 2025, due to injuries caused by a car accident. She is survived by her mother, Lisa White Pipe, and her Grandma Wilma and Papa Wade Robertson all of Gregory, SD; Mama Katie Knox; her Aunt Amanda Bordeaux and her children, Bronson, Kenni and William of Mission, SD; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, her three furry friends, special friend Brock Parkis, and friends Joseph and Jaslyn— they were the three musketeers.

She was preceded in death by her Grandma Lynelle Hairy Shirt, Uncle Brown Bear Knox, Papa Charlie White Pipe, Grandma Honey (Lillian) Middlesworth, Grandma Gayle White Pipe, Coco Eldon White Pipe, and Grandma Marilyn Marshall.