Diane Ponga | March 28, 1952 - August 5, 2022
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Aug 11, 2022 | 8:53 AM / 204 views
Memorial services for Diane Ponga, 70, of Ft. Yates, ND will be held on Friday, August 19, 2022 at 11:00 am at the A. J. Agard Building in Ft. Yates. Inurnment, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge, will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND at a later date. Diane died on August 5, 2022 at Fort Yates HIS.
Diane was born on March 28, 1952 to Leo and Edith (One Horn) Bull Bear Sr. in Fort Yates, ND. She was raised in Cannon Ball and attended school there until attending school in Fort Yates, where she lived in the dormitories.
Diane gave birth to her three boys, Hadley Jr, Warren and Alden White Lightning. After living in Fort Yates, she met Gene Ponga. From this union, Jon Jay, Rachel and Jean Marie Ponga were born. Together they set off on a remarkable journey in sobriety, religion and children. They were married on May 12, 1982 at the First Baptist Church in Fort Yates by Pastor Bill Tiger along with his wife, Wanda, two very good friends and supporters. Diane loved being a homemaker and spending time with her children. Even though she had six children of her own, she and Gene opened their hearts and home to countless nieces, nephews, family and friends and others. All were welcomed with open arms. In the early 80’s, feeling the love and need to help children she accepted the duties of the Christian Children’s Fund for the Standing Rock Area. For kids that had no transportation, she used her own vehicle and gas money to take these kids Bismarck for a meal and shopping. She enjoyed this very much. In the mid 90’s, with her own children grown, she decided to enroll in a nursing program. She and her younger children moved on campus into the same unit her sister and her shared in the 70’s. Gene lived in their home in Fort Yates. Upon graduation, Diane was hired by UTTC at the student infirmary. Due to Gene’s health, they moved to Twin City Estates in Mandan. After many years at UTTC, she resigned her position to care for Gene and they moved to Bismarck to be closer to the hospital. After Gene passed away on Dec. 11, 2002, she returned to Ft. Yates where she lived out her remaining years. Diane was a strong little woman with a heart bigger than herself. She was truly a remarkable and incredible woman. She’ll forever be in many hearts and missed by all.
Diane is survived by daughters, Jean Marie Ponga and Celie Cross, both of Ft. Yates; sons; Hadley Jr and Warren White Lightning both of Ft. Yates, Alvin Bull Bear of Glenham, Nathan Shell Track, Solen, ND; sisters, Delores Eisenbarth, Hermanstin, OR and Denise Bull Bear of Bismarck; numerous Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews. If we have forgotten anyone, we deeply apologize. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gene, three children, Rachel (Ponga) Two Bears, Alden White Lightning, Jon Jay Ponga, sister, Delia (Bull Bear) White Eagle, brother, Leo (Sonny) Bull Bear Jr., and her grandparents, Edward and Maggie One Horn and Eugene and Julie Bull Bear.