Funeral services for Nicolette Ann Wolf Leader, age 30, of Grand Forks, ND are Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 at 10:00AM CT at the A. J. Agard Community Building in Ft. Yates, ND. All night wake will begin at 4:00 PM on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012 at the Community Building. Burial will be in the Whitetemple Family Cemetery, Bullhead, SD under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.Nicolette passed away Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls
Sina Ska Win "White Shawl Woman" Nicolette "Nikki" Whitetemple Wolf Leader was born on June 21st 1981 in Bismarck, ND to Rosa Whitetemple and Greg Cavanaugh. Her maternal grandparents are the late Emmett Whitetemple Sr. and Lillian Good Iron-Whitetemple. Her paternal grandparents are the late William Sr. and the late Gertrude Mckay-Cavanaugh. She was also a wonderful mother who would do anything to make her children happy. Nikki met and married Vincent James (VJ) Wolf Leader. Through this union she gained a son Justice William, together they have two children Jamisen William and Josephine Cecelia Rose Wolf Leader. They separated but continued to raise the kids together. Nikki is a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation and also the Standing Rock Lakota Nation.
In her younger years Nikki attended many different schools. She spent her elementary school years in Minneapolis, her middle school years were lived out in East Grand Forks. She started her high school career in Minneapolis at Upper Midwest, before moving and eventually graduating from Standing Rock Community High School in Fort Yates, ND in 1999. She began her college career at Haskell Indian Nations University. She continued on from there achieving an Associate of Arts degree from Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago, NE. Nikki then moved back to Grand Forks and attended the University of North Dakota. Nikki completed her internship at the Standing Rock Indian Health Service this past Summer 2010 and was on her way to receiving a degree in Nursing.
She enjoyed many different hobbies. She had a strong affection for horses which began when she was a young girl with an extensive collection of My Little Pony figurines. She enjoyed spending time at her Grandpa Emmett's ranch where he raised many horses. She wanted, one day, for her children to have horses of their own. Nikki also loved to read and write poetry. She loved attending different pow wows and enjoyed beading, sewing dance regalia for her children and others. She also attended Sun Dances in Rosebud, SD. Nikki was a great cook and enjoyed being the chef for many family functions and traditional ceremonies. Nikki had a very warm heart and would help anyone who needed her time. She was the life of every and any get together where her wonderful sense of humor would keep everyone laughing for hours and hours. She loved spending time with her family spending endless hours playing wist and scrabble, sometimes laughing until the sun came up. She meant more to those who knew her than can be expressed in words, She will be greatly missed.
Nikki entered into the Spirit World on December 27th 2011. She is survived by her Grandma Lillian Good Iron-Whitetemple and Grandpas Allen (Red) Whitetemple and Percy Good Iron Sr., her parents Rosa Whitetemple & Henry Green Crow Jr. and Greg Cavanaugh, her children Justis, Jamisen and Josephine Wolf Leader. Her brothers and sisters, Judd Kunkel, Dominique, Rondina and Brannon Cavanaugh, Her Aunts Uncles and Cousins: Bill Jr.& Carolyn and Misty Cavanaugh, Skip & Darlis, Kyle, Cooper and Ivy Longie, Raymond Sr. & Faye, Ray Jr., Dustin and Kara Jetty. Emmett Whitetemple Jr. & Cheryl Shooter, Katy and Michael Whitetemple and Jesse and Jaime Dupris, Sam & Patricia Whitetemple, Skyler, Samantha, Ethan and Maxine Whitetemple, Mary & Tim and Nissa Stead, Loren Whitetemple, Althea and Waniyetu Whitetemple, Melissa Whitetemple & Jayson and Sabeion, Jaydon, Solomon, Talon and Mya Garter. Her Nieces and Nephews: Olivia Cavanaugh, Jayda Howse, Jennilia and Tyrone Whitetemple, and Tiana Whitetemple.
She was preceded in death by her Great Grandparents Marie Antelope-Whitetemple & Gilbert Whitetemple, Grandparents William & Gertrude Cavanaugh, Eunice Whitetemple-Gipp, Emmett Whitetemple Sr., and Virginia Whitetemple. Her Uncles Randy Cavanaugh, Stanley Cavanaugh and Allen Whitetemple Jr. Her cousins Jennifer Whitetemple, Rondina Longie and Laura Jetty.