Margaret Cruz, 70, CRST Member, formerly of Cherry Creek, passed away Thursday, August 25, 2022, at her home in Clarksville, TN.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., MDT, Friday, September 9, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Cherry Creek. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Wake services will be 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 8, 2022, at the CRST Bingo Hall, Eagle Butte, with a procession from the 4-mile at 4:00 p.m.

Julian Anne Dupris, baptized as Julian Margaret Anne Dupris, birth certificate registered as Margaret Ann Dupris, Nagi Waste’ Win “Beautiful Spirit Woman”, was born on April 10, 1952 in Cherry Creek, South Dakota to Rosalie Marie (Straight Head) Dupris and Millard Joseph Dupris. Margaret was raised in Cherry Creek where much of her extended family still resides in and around the area. Margaret “Muggs” is the fourth eldest child of eight children; she is sibling to Maynard Dupris, Bryan Dupris, Victoria Dupris, Billy Dupris, Audie Dupris, Sharon Dupris, and Joseph Dupris.

From Margaret’s first marriage, she had five children: Melaine (High Elk) Tomko, Angel “Gerri” (High Elk) Cooper, Jobe Cruz, Perry High Elk and her late baby Nicole High Elk.

Margaret had fourteen grandchildren: Nicole Cruz, Tommy Tomko II, Celine High Elk, Arnold Black Bull Jr, Tuffy Lone Eagle, Colby High Elk, Crystal Black Bull, Rhaiyan Tomko, Emily Brieno, Ellyce High Elk, Jamie “Lil P” High Elk, Viola Condon, and Misun Condon; and her late great-granddaughter, Kubria Rain Flying By-Tomko.Margaret always wanted a large family so she added more daughters and sons; her hunka children include: Kenita Counting, Giselle Cruz, Delbert Arpan, Charles Dupris, Mitchum Dupris, and her late nephew Lance Dupris. Her hunka grandchildren include: Jim Carlos Rivera Cruz, Kamila Rivera Cruz, Adam Benson, Angel Benson, J’Savian Red Elk, Cante Red Elk, and Angelica Rivera Cruz. Including her two fur-babies: Maximus “Nax” Magnus Cruz and Ameera “Nah” Tomko-Cruz.

In November 1980, Margaret married Anibal Cruz Maisonet and was since known as Margaret Ann Cruz.

During the summer of 1979, Anibal Cruz, who was in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Carson, CO had driven to Cherry Creek, SD to meet Millard Dupris to ask for permission to marry his daughter – they were married on November 17, 1980. Margaret married and remained ever-lovingly faithful to her husband of 41 years; together they created many beautiful memories.

Margaret was a stay-at-home mom, taking great care of her family, her home, and her fur-babies. Margaret took care of the home while the rest of the family attended school or work; she was the family’s foundation, their strength, and the source of their love. Margaret was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

In 1971, Margaret was not able to graduate high school due to being pregnant with her first child, Melaine. However, in 1986, while she was living in South Carolina, she took evening classes and completed the required courses. Margaret graduated with a high school diploma (not a GED); she was very adamant that we knew that fact and she was very proud of her accomplishment and her class ring. We all are very proud of her and all that she had done.

Margaret served alongside her husband by supporting his 24-year career in the U.S. Army, while being stationed overseas in Germany and Puerto Rico and stateside in Colorado, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Margaret and her husband also travelled to Paris, France for a site-seeing vacation. Margaret also supported her husband’s 18-year career with Trane in Clarksville, Tennessee where they eventually retired, making Tennessee their home for 30+ years. From an early age until her late 40s, Margaret had played softball with teams in Cherry Creek, SD; Aschaffenburg, Germany; Fort Jackson, SC; Fort Buchanan, PR; and Fort Campbell, KY. It was during the games overseas she had her hand kissed by both Lionel Richie and Henry Winkler “The Fonz”.

Margaret was well-known for travelling; she had travelled to Colorado, Florida, France, Georgia, Germany, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Washington. Margaret travelled many times between her two home states: South Dakota and Tennessee – she travelled so often that she made it look like it was just over the hill. Margaret was very supportive of her children and grandchildren; she had travelled numerous times to Colorado, North Dakota, and Florida to help take care of her grandchildren while two of her children were serving in the U.S. Air Force. Margaret helped care for and raise her only great-grandchild, Rain Tomko. Margaret’s selflessness, kindness, and everlasting love was what kept her family together.

Margaret loved her house, especially when it was filled with family. Margaret loved taking care of and running her own home. She decorated her home beautifully, especially with paintings and tapestries, and most of all, with pictures of her children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter. Margaret loved her mom, Rosalie and dad, Millard very deeply and held the utmost respect for them. She missed them dearly and spoke of them fondly and often. She loved all her siblings very much; she missed the days when they didn’t have much but had each other.

Margaret loved shopping, going out to eat at restaurants, eating oranges, snacking on Mac’s pork skins or strawberry licorice, drinking black cherry kool-aid or Sunkist orange soda, having movie nights (especially anything with Thor), listening to Celine Dion or Christmas music, having pizza nights with family, watching the Tennessee Titans play, cooking, cleaning (especially doing dishes), eating ice cream, word search puzzles, playing cards, bingo, Scrabble, and Farkle, hunting for rocks, digging for timpsula, picking choke cherries and plums, attending powwows, watching her relatives dance, and just being with family. Margaret started to traditional dance in memory of her great-granddaughter (she was able to finish year 3 of 4). She loved cooking for her family: her fried potatoes and potato salad was a family favorite and most requested side dish at family gatherings and from neighbors and friends alike.

Whenever relatives would visit, she would have a full dinner on the table; hot and ready – she was a darn good cook! She enjoyed holidays because it meant having family close; Christmas was her favorite holiday as well as Easter; she always kept Jesus alive. She enjoyed the other holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween (she loved passing candy out to the children) but Christmas was always at the top of her list (she had hoped she would be spending another one of Jesus’s birthdays with us but now she will be spending them with Him). Margaret loved having birthdays, Mother’s Day, and Independence Day; pretty much any holiday for which family gathered.

Margaret loved laughing and joking with her family, it always warmed her heart seeing everyone together. She once said it would remind her of when she was young with her siblings, her parents, and her grandma Julie. Margaret loved sharing her life stories with her husband, her children, and her grandchildren. These stories were a big part of her life – she used each story as a life lesson. She carried these stories with her all these years and passed them onto her family for them to keep and hold dear; they in turn will share and pass on to future generations.

Margaret was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. She underwent chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation. While in bed, feeling very ill, she had a dream of her grandma Julie who was holding a bowl of soup, bundled and tied up with a cloth; she could smell the soup. Grandma Julie was concerned because Margaret was not eating. Then as her grandma Julie untied the cloth and began stirring the soup, Margaret’s dad entered the room, he immediately told his mom (in Lakota) that Margaret could not eat the soup and that she will eat when she’s ready. Grandma Rosalie told Margaret that had she eaten the soup, she wouldn’t have been able to continue. Although she lost her hair and some weight, she did not lose the fight. It was difficult for Margaret but being a strong woman, she went into remission for eighteen years.

During remission, Margaret created many more memories with her husband and children, especially her grandchildren and great-grand daughter; raising and watching them grow up in her home. Whenever her children needed her help, she immediately went to her grandchildren’s aid and became a second mother to them. Margaret would tell her husband “Dad, they need me” and he would immediately let her start making her travel plans.

Margaret was again diagnosed with cancer in 2019. For the next two years, she displayed such bravery and strength. Margaret would always tell her family that she was not done yet; she pushed on through the multiple surgeries, chemotherapy sessions, procedures, medications, doctor visits, complications, and pain – she would always manage to joke, smile, and laugh with her doctors, nurses, husband, children, grandchildren, and friends. Margaret kept a strong demeanor; her faith and love for Jesus kept her going.

In August 2021, Margaret’s doctors explained there was nothing more they could do. Margaret thanked them for all they had done and said, “no one can say we didn’t try”, and then assured them she would be okay. The hardest part for her was having to tell her children and grandchildren that she had 3-6 months left; she initially contemplated not saying a word but chose to do so to help them prepare for what was to come. It was mostly difficult for her because she did not want to leave them – God answered our prayers for more time; He gave her nearly a full year.

Margaret’s last year was spent with family, doing things she wanted to do and just spending time with her loved ones, making more memories and being close to them. With the help of others, she redid the graves of her parents, her brother Bryan, and her nephew Aaron. Margaret made her last trip to South Dakota in September 2021 where she was surprised with a Lakota Naming Ceremony – she received the name Nagi Waste Wi “Beautiful Spirit Woman” because of her gift of seeing and speaking with loved ones who are in the spirit world; she always had beautiful messages for loved ones here in the earthly world.

During Christmas 2021, Margaret was very happy she was spending Jesus’s birthday with her family; she always made an important point that we remember Him. Margaret’s love and faith in Jesus Christ was immeasurable, she made it clear that she was not afraid and did not want anyone to blame God or to be angry with Him. Margaret was well-known for saying “Everything happens for a reason” and “There’s a purpose for everything”.

Margaret missed her mom, dad, and great-granddaughter “Baby Rain” very much; she looked forward to being reunited with them and other loved ones. In the last year, Margaret was torn in many ways: She wanted to see and visit family in South Dakota but didn’t want to leave her husband alone. She wanted to go home to South Dakota but wanted to remain in her house in Tennessee where she had so many wonderful memories. She was happy about who was waiting for her in the spirit world but didn’t want to leave her loved ones behind.

Margaret fought for as long as she could, up until the early morning hours of August 25, 2022 when she took her last breath in her home in Clarksville, Tennessee with her husband close, along with the love and memories of her family surrounding her and her loved ones in the spirit world awaiting her arrival; especially her Baby Rain.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Anibal Cruz Maisonet; siblings: Victoria Dupris, Billy Dupris, Audie Dupris, Sharon Dupris, Joseph Dupris; children: Melaine Tomko, Angel Cooper, Jobe Cruz, Perry High Elk; grandchildren: Nicole Cruz, Tommy Tomko II, Celine High Elk, Tuffy Lone Eagle, Arnold Black Bull Jr, Colby High Elk, Crystal Black Bull, Rhaiyan Tomko, Emily Brieno, Ellyce High Elk, Jamie “Lil P” High Elk, Viola Condon, Misun Condon, and fur-babies: Max and Ameera.

Margaret is preceded in death by her father, Millard Dupris; mother, Rosalie Dupris; brothers, Maynard Dupris and Bryan Dupris; daughter Nicole High Elk; great-granddaughter, Kubria Rain Flying By-Tomko.

Margaret exemplified the strength, courage, and faithfulness of a true and respectable Lakota woman. Even in her most trying times, she remained ever strong; she comforted others when she should have been comforted. She displayed a high level of bravery; she was heroic to endure what she faced and projected her faithfulness; she encouraged her family to always pray. Margaret’s role as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and child of God, placed her in the highest level of respect and love.

Margaret wanted her family to know that it was God’s will to take her home with Him. It should bring us comfort to know her pain has ended and mostly because God saw her tears and heard her prayers of wanting to be with Him, her dad and mom, and Baby Rain. She said she will look after us because she knew we would need strength; her strength. Margaret wanted us all to be happy, to live our lives, to take good care of ourselves and each other. She said she will pray for us, watch over us, and will be waiting for us. Margaret wanted us to enjoy this beautiful world that God created for us and to live each day being thankful, all she asked of us was to remember Jesus, to pray to Him – to do this in her honor and to honor the memory of her love for Him.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Margaret’s arrangements.

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