Funeral services for Verna Rosa Cadotte will be at 11 am (CST) on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at St. Bede's Catholic Church in Wakpala. Family will meet at Kesling Funeral Home at 5:00 PM to process to the Wakpala Community Center for a Wake will be held on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010 7:00 p.m.
Interment will follow at St. Bede's Catholic Cemetery where traditional Lakota prayers will be offered by Jay Taken Alive, Isaac Dog Eagle.

Verna Rose Cadotte passed into the Spirit World to accompany all of her younger brothers and sisters on Tuesday December 7, 2010. Verna was born on October 9, 1915 in Mad Bear country along the Missouri River on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The eldest daughter of Scholastica Mad Bear Cadotte and Jerome Cadotte, Verna undertook a great deal of responsibility at a young age, helping her father with ranching activities and assisting her mother with the family garden and other household duties. An excellent horsewoman, Verna was a true "cowgirl" whose courage and discipline prepared her for her future profession.

Verna graduated from Flandreau High School in 1939 and then attended nursing school in Ganado, AZ. Verna was a Registered Nurse working for a number of years for the Indian Health Service, caring for the health of her Lakota people. She also worked in Mobridge, Eagle Butte, and Ft. Yates. Verna loved her nieces, nephews and grandchildren and took them as her own. Verna enjoyed her retirement years, remaining on Standing Rock, spending precious moments with her cousin and best friend, Therese Martin. Verna and Therese traveled to the various communities attending pow wows, feeds, celebrations, praying together at Catholic Church services as well as at the Sitting Bull Sun Dance. Verna joyfully celebrated her 95th birthday with relatives and friends this October. Verna loved life, her relatives and she will be remembered for her generosity and faith in God. Mitakuye Oyasin

Verna is survived by her cousins Theresa Martin, Arlene Robbins, Delores McLaughlin, Nieces- Jace Cuney DeCory & family (Spearfish), Cathy Herrera & family (Mexico), Frances Cadotte Grey & family (Rapid City), Judy Cadotte & family, Candace Cadotte & family and Mary Beth (Amanda) Cadotte (Wakpala), Deloris Cadotte, Cyril Cadotte, and Linda, Kathy, and Iris Claymore (San Jose, CA), Nephews - K.J. Lentz (Nebr.), Jeff Cadotte, Sr. & family Anthony "T.C." Cadotte & family, Tyrone Cadotte, Sr. & family and Bernard Cadotte & family (Wakpala), Steve McLaughlin & family (Ft. Thompson), Frank Cadotte, and numerous grandchildren.