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Bessie Marie DeMarrias "Was`te` Win`Yan" was born on August 9, 1946 to Katherine Spotted Horse-DeMarrias and Charles Paul DeMarrias. Her maternal grandparents were Bessie Jordan-Spotted Horse and Felix Spotted Horse.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Blue Gym in McLaughlin. Burial will follow in the Catholic Cemetery in Little Eagle. A prayer service will be held on Friday evening at 7:00 pm at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge.

Bessie was born in a log cabin house in Little Eagle with no mid-wife or anyone to assist her mother. Bessie had 6 brothers, Richard, Delmar, Douglas, Robert and Donald and 3 half-sisters, Mona, Mary Lynn and Ilene.

Katherine moved her family to Rapid City when Bessie was 5 years old and until she was 13. She then returned home where they lived in Mobridge. Her mother bought a home in 1959 from across the river. The house had to be moved during winter months as the house mover brought it across the frozen Missouri River to be set up in the Little Eagle community.

Bessie met James Loves War and a son was born, Dean Charles DeMarrias on July 30, 1964. She then lived in Mobridge for a year before moving to Topeka, KS where she received her GED, then moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1965 and enrolled at the School of Nursing and later took business courses until 1967. She then moved home for a year and lived in Bismarck, ND where she worked at the Bismarck Hospital. A daughter, Lisa Marie was born. She returned to Topeka, KS to live and work near her brothers. This is where she met and married David Kitchkommie in 1971. Two children were born, Kimberly and Kevin. David was employed with a labor union and the family moved to where the employer sent them; Wichita, KS, Oklahoma City, OK, Kansas City, KS, Omaha, NE and returned to Topeka, KS. Bessie worked to help supplement the family income performing various jobs as a nurses aid working in nursing homes. She also worked at various factories making furniture, houses, hospital/motel furniture, Frito Lay company making chips, and working as a draftsman for the Josten's Yearbook and also as an insurance claims adjuster. In 1976, her mother became ill and she moved home to care for her until her passing in 1977. She was then employed as a clerk for the tribal courts, working for 3 years and returning to Topeka. In 1993, Bessie and David divorced. Bessie then moved to Sioux Falls, SD and worked as a computer technician working her way up to an inspector. She always loved a challenge whether at home, school or work. In 2003 she moved to McLaughlin where she resided until her passing. She loved doing puzzles, visiting with friends and relatives, making home cooked meals and giving of her time to her loved ones.

She leaves her children, Dean, Lisa, Kimberly and Kevin and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, She was preceded in death by her mother, Katherine and father Charles; brothers, Richard, Delmar, Douglas, Robert, Donald and infant brother Maynard; and sisters, Mary Lynn and infant sister, Lila Mae; and her maternal and paternal grandparents