Funeral services for Leslie Tiger, age 53, of Wakpala will be at 2 PM, Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 at the Wakpala Nutrition Center. Burial will be at St. Bede's Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Leslie passed away Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck.

Leslie Jodeen Tiger; AKA Jody or Jo; age 53, was called back to the spirit world on October 27, 2012. Her passing was due to health complications.

Jody was born to Phyllis Feather and Fremont Tiger on June 3, 1959, in Sisseton, S.D. She was raised in the Wakpala area by her Paternal Grandmother, Rose Tiger, from the age of 1 ½. She grew up and attended school in Wakpala surrounded by many cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and her dad. She also attended school in Albuquerque, N.M. and served in the Armed Forces for a short time.

Jody enjoyed doing beadwork, working with leather, and making crafts with her hands. She also loved to be in the outdoors. When she was younger you could always find her climbing the hills or trees around Wakpala. Later in life, when her health made her weak, she could still be found outside, sitting in the sun with the breeze blowing across her face. She especially loved taking care of her dog "Missy".

Jody had a special love for her many nieces and nephews who called her "Auntie JoJo". Among those was Tristen who had a special place in her heart because he was her daughter Breanna's "bestest friend" while she lived in S.D. And she loved teasing with the Yearsley girls, especially Buffi, who always asked her who the "flava of month was," or who her latest "sugar daddy" was.

Because of the many trials and hardships in her life, she grew up to be a strong and tough woman. She was a "Badass" , as she would have put it. She was tough when she had to be, but she was just a big teddy bear at heart. She had a contagious laugh and loved to joke around. If you were lucky enough to be among her circle of friends you knew she would have given the shirt off her back if you needed it, and been the first to defend you or your honor and would always have your back.

Jody is survived by her children; LeGrand Wells of Wakpala, Carmen Wells of Minnesota, and Breanna Yearsley of Preston, ID. Siblings; Lynn Tiger of Minnesota, Darren Tiger of Sioux Falls, S.D., Fremont Tiger Jr. of Colorado, and Denise Tiger of Oklahoma. Four Grandsons; Inyan, Ituancha, Julian, and Bizhiw, only uncle, Robert Tiger of Wakpala, SD and all of whom she loved and cherished dearly.

She was preceded in death by a son, Leland Wells, and by a daughter, Jenny Rae Wells, by both parents, grandparents John and Rose Tiger, and maternal Grandmother Fannie Johnson, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 2:00PM at the community center in Wakpala, S.D. Internment will be in the Catholic cemetery. Arrangements are under the directions of Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge, S.D.