RAPID CITY, SD – Mia Little Thunder, 56, of Rapid City, passed away, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., MDT, Monday, May 4, 2026, at CRST Bingo Hall, Eagle Butte. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m., Monday, May 4, 2026, at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis. Wake services will be 7:00 p.m., Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the bingo hall, with a procession from the 4-Mile at 4:00 p.m.
Mia Julia Little Thunder was born December 20, 1969, to Gilbert and Eunice (Thunder Hoop) Little Thunder. She was the baby of seven children. Mia attended Head Start and elementary school in Red Scaffold, then transferred to Cheyenne-Eagle Butte for junior high and high school. She later attended Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City, South Dakota, graduating in 1993 with a degree in Computer Technology.
Mia joined the United States Army in 1999 and was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she served as a medevac. During her service, she was stationed in South Carolina and later deployed to Cairo, Egypt, for six months before returning to the United States. After being honorably discharged, she immediately enlisted in the National Guard, where she trained in Bismarck, North Dakota, before Rapid City became her main station. During her enlistment with the National Guard, her unit was also sent to Hawaii for two weeks. Mia dedicated her military service to her Ate’, Gilbert, and Tiblo Ken, following in their military footsteps. She was especially proud to stand beside her Tiblo Ken as a fellow Honor Guard veteran at powwows and other events, including trips to New York, LNI basketball games, and invited Honor Guard services for Memorial Day.
Mia was proud to be a Little Thunder. She had a charismatic and positive personality and outlook on life and made friends everywhere she went. Mia built strong relationships with the Faron Sanders Crew in Shellman, Georgia, whom she referred to as her “adopted mom,” and with Lonny Collins, who became a lifelong family friend. Mia created many fond memories that she shared as life lessons with all her nieces and nephews, often telling them to get off the rez and go see the world. She expressed her love for them all by giving each one a unique nickname, often calling them her “Goons.”
Mia carried a strong faith and love for Jesus Christ. His teachings were passed down to her from her Ina and Ate’. She encouraged others to follow the Word of God and prayed every day until her passing.
Mia is survived by her siblings: Harry, Ida, Delaura, Olivia, and Glenda; nephews: Kent, Sam, Brice, Keith, Leonard Jr. (Junebug), Leslie, Darren, and Jeremy; nieces: Felicia, Dawn, Shawn, and Sherral; grandchildren: Morning Star, Jalen, Grant, Jordanna, Chris, Brooklyn, Tanksi, Louis, Anja, Stormi, Arrow, Axel, Xael, RJ, Layla, Aisleigh, Hunter, Amiyah, and Nailea; and great-grandsons: Myles, Summit, and Silas.
She was preceded in death by her Ate’, Gilbert Little Thunder; Ina, Eunice Little Thunder; Tunwin, Rose Thunder Hoop and Drucilla Widow; Leksi, Gilbert “Moe” Widow, John Little Thunder, Jake Little Thunder, and Stephen Little Thunder; Tiblo, Ken Little Thunder and Aaron Widow; Cuwe, Iris Little Thunder; Tojan, Ruth Blair Marrowbone; Toska, Terrence “Big Nation” Little Thunder and Emery Gilbert Little Thunder; and Sicesi, Dewey Little Thunder and Ron Little Thunder.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Mia’s arrangements.

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