Funeral services for Troy Village Center, 45, of Little Eagle will be at 1:00 PM, Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Wakpa Opaha Camp south of Little Eagle. Burial will be at Elk Horn Congregational Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. A procession will leave the funeral home at 5 PM Sunday for wake services at 7 PM at the Wakpa Opaha Camp south of Little Eagle. Troy passed away Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck.

Troy James Village Center was born on August 11, 1978, in Ft. Yates, ND, to Charlotte Village Center and Anthony Bobtail Bear. He grew up in Little Eagle and attended school in Little Eagle and Ft. Yates. He liked to play basketball and baseball. He liked to sing both drums and hymns and attended many pow wows.

In 1999, Troy left his community to reside with his brother Alvin and Charlotte Uses Arrow in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Being the brother and special uncle to the Village Center babies, Troy helped to care for his nieces and nephews. He would tell jokes to the boys, sing to them, and showed them how to tie their shoes. He was also very close to his twins Shaniece and Malikia, he would do anything for them. His love for the kids grew to a father figure, as a brother to Alvin, he made sure they had clean clothes, cooked his gabubu bread, played games with them and wrestled with the boys. He spent 8 years of his life being that loving uncle and being part of the Uses Arrow family in Cannon Ball. During his stay in Cannon Ball, he also bonded with his friends he met there. He shared his love of singing with the Sioux Echo singers, Tip of the Rock and others who just wanted to sing. He had a good friendship with Noah Uses Arrow, Delvin Uses Arrow, Gerald "Poz" Love Joy, Dale Ramsey, Ron Black Cloud, Raymond Thunder Hawk, Poca Joshua and Delbert Cloud. Troy shared his good sense of humor, stressed the importance of appropriate songs and teaching them to the younger singers. Troy left and lasting impact and will be greatly missed by those he shared his life within Cannon Ball.

August of 2017, Troy moved back to his home in Little Eagle where he continued his singing with the Grand River, Running Antelope, Thunder Bear, and Wounded Horse Singers. Troy kept himself busy by working with Doug Wilkinson and Pickup Man construction and other odd Jobs. October of 2018, the beginning of what is known as the Palani Wakpa Okolakiciye came to be at the old striped gym. Under the guidance of Pastor Doug Wilkinson, a group of young and old gathered to share words of encouragement, testimony, and scripture. From this grew the Palani Wakpa singers, Lakota hymnal singing and singing on the drum with Grand River. Troy enjoyed learning and singing songs for many people. Palani Wakpa travelled extensively, singing to comfort families in time of mourning, memorials and honoring of those at name giving, powwows, and graduations. To name a few, Palani Wakpa went to Three Affiliated, Rapid City, Bismarck, North Platte, NE, Eagle Butte, Oglala SD, Sisseton SD, Pierre SD, and Fair Banks, Alaska. Through the travels, many doors were opened, and many thanks were given to them for what they did. Troy shared songs with the members of Palani wakpa, Doug Wilkinson, Frank Jamerson, Virgil Taken Alive, Bryan Swift Cloud, Jasper Iron Cloud, Kenny Little Dog, Alvin Village Center, Shilo Cadotte, Clint Kills Crow, Frankie Jamerson, and Andrea Eastman. Through the Years, Troy collected many obituary cards of those he sang for. During the pandemic, Palani Wakpa continued their sharing families. Troy was never afraid, for he knew what he was doing, was a calling to help those in need.

On August 23, 2018, Troy was part of the welcoming home and naming ceremony of Kyrie Irving. He knew many singers would have loved to have sat in his chair to sing but the honor was given to the Palani Wakpa Singers. July of 2020, Troy helped to bring people together at what became known as Wakpa Opaha oskate na wacipi. The summer of 2022, Troy went powwow to powwow with REZ JAM, assisting with set up and being the mic man. He acquired the name of the Reverend at the Little Eagle Monument Celebration and it stuck with him since. He became widely known by many on the powwow trail. He loved listening to the singers at powwows, he always said he had the best seat in the house as a mic man. He enjoyed many drum groups but especially enjoyed Fort Peck Sioux, Mahto Pejuta, and Northern Cree. One of his most memorable moments as a mic man, was in 2023 at Rose Bud fair. Mahto Pejuta sang the championship song at the end. When they got done, Redwing Thomas took all the money thrown on the drum and called the mic man back. Troy was given all that money, Redwing said this is for you, it was a very emotional gesture of kindness that he spoke about all the way home.  In 2023, at the Wakpa Opaha oskate na wacipi, he became the announcer and was looking to taking the mic once again. He definitely had the voice for announcing. Troy had the opportunity to travel to Fair Banks, Alaska to sing as host drum at the Midnight Sun Powwow, in July of 2023. He enjoyed his first flight on a plane to a place he never had gone to before. Upon returning home, he waited a few days for his bag to return but said If he had the chance to go again, he would do it all over again. He was very grateful to have experienced his trip to Alaska, meeting a relative, Grace Village Center, became friends with Benno Cleveland, Carol Rose, Bethany Himes, Sean Rice, Woody Pharr and Sparky the sound man. Troy also had the nickname of commissioner. He was part of the Running Antelope planning commission for a term in 2020 to 2022.

In May of 2024, Troy suffered a life ending brain injury. He never recovered due to the seriousness of the injury. He was surrounded by family and friends up to the time of his journey. The family would like to thank all those who shared prayers, songs and comfort.

Although his life was short, Troy shared many good memories with all. One couldn't forget the good times in the Good Samaritan fun bus, the laugh and crazy times of cruising from here to there. The many meals shared with each other, trading of chicken or other food items, Troy had a love for cookies "hence the name of cookie monster", he loved to surprise people with a sudden loud blowing of his nose, joking and laughing was what he did best. When he would quickly rub his hands together, you knew something was up. No matter what kind of mood anyone was in, Troy would, bring humor, laughter and craziness to enlighten the atmosphere. It is the hope of the family that each of you will cherish his humorous ways for Troy had a special place in his heart for all.

There will be an empty chair at the drum, there will be an empty seat at the table, you will not hear his voice, his laugh or see his face, but there will be times when his spirit will be with us. There will be a memory that will come to mind, you will laugh and smile for he shared his life with you as you with him, Troy may be gone from this earth but his memories we will cherish.

Troy is survived by his mother, Charlotte Village Center, sisters, Tonia Kills Crow, Tina Kills Crow of Little Eagle, Toshia Kills Crow of Portland, OR, Terri Kills Crow of Bismarck, brothers, Quentin Kills Crow of Bismarck, Clifford Kills Crow Jr. of Little Eagle, Alvin Village Center of Little Eagle.

He is preceded in death by his father, Clifford Kills Crow Sr., brother, Leon Village Center, grandpa, Joseph Kills Crow, grandma, Mary Jane Kills Crow

I know we can all agree, Troy you will be greatly missed. RIP until we all meet again…..thank you for sharing your life with us.