John Dean Martin -Standing Cloud, 1971-2022
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jan 24, 2022 | 11:34 AM / 724 views
Funeral services for John Dean Martin -Standing Cloud, 50, of McLaughlin will be held at 11 AM, CST Saturday, January 29, 2022, at the Founding Mother’s Blue Gym in McLaughlin. Burial will be at the Good Shepherd Cemetery in rural Little Eagle. the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. There will be an all-night wake with services at 7 PM Friday at the gym. The procession will leave at 3 PM from Kesling Funeral Home. John passed away Monday, January 17, 2022 at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, WY.
John Dean Martin Standing Cloud made his grand entrance into this world on May 24, 1971 to Margaret Martin. Margaret and Homer Lee Cutt were married on November 4, 1977 and he became John’s one and only dad in his lifetime. John was born with Cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. He was in the Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls for a little over a year before returning home.
John attended elementary school in McLaughlin, Aberdeen and HeDog School. He continued on with his education at Todd County High School where he graduated in 1991. He was in special education throughout his school years and won many medals in the Special Olympics. After graduation John worked at Oahe Inc. in Pierre; an organization that teaches disabled clients work skills and everyday life skills.
John’s favorite hobby was trains. He had an enormous collection. John was a huge Denver Broncos fan. His passion when growing up was to be a traditional dancer. At the age of 10, he attended a powwow in Little Eagle SD. He didn’t have any regalia so he would use paper cups for cuffs and sticks for a staff. He would go out and dance. He watched all the traditional dancers and wanted to be like them. His dad Lee would show him some moves and taught him how to dance. John would be out there dancing every song. People began observing him dancing. They would begin to gift him small pieces of regalia. As he grew older, the gifts got bigger. He had received bustles from the late Steve Charging Eagle, the late Chief Leonard Crow Dog Sr. and Tom Roubideaux. He was given pipe bags from the late Terry Larvie and also Scott Evans (“T. He received his pesa from Severt Young Bear Sr. John had admired a dance shirt that Terry Fiddler was wearing and told him that he liked his shirt. Terry’s unci had made his shirt. Terry gave that shirt to John. He also received a dance stick from Joseph Lafferty and many others over the years. He danced with so many and had special bonds with so many dancers.
John received his Lakota name in 1986 in a ceremony by his grandpa, the late Rudy Runs Above “Oyate Waiyokipi”. His canupa was passed down to him by our late grandpa, Herman White Face Sr.
Unable to work anymore because of additional health problems, John enjoyed his life of dancing. He wanted to start his own drum group. As our family grew with more dancing, John started singing with Maurice “Chip” LeDeaux’s drum “Northern Plains”. He met the late Kenny Merrick Jr. at Prairie Island Powwow around 2004-2005. John shook hands with Kenny and he had felt something in John’s handshake so he asked John to pray at his drum. John did and at the end of that powwow, Kenny’s drum champed out. John had told him he wanted to start his own drum group so Kenny said that he would make him a drum. John’s dream of having his own drum came true in 2008. Kenny had made him a drum. Knowing my brother and who he was a a person, his drum was given the name, High Spirit, by the late Percy Bad Hand, Pat Bad Hand Sr. and Tom Teegarden. An elderly woman named Violet Catches called his drum “Wakinyan Okiya” meaning Thunder Helper”. John’s drum group consisted of family; his dad, nephews and grandsons. Many have sung with his drum and John sang with others too.
As John grew older and became a lala, he would give so much time and have the most patience with all of the grandkids. John loved children so much. He took care of them and taught them so much. John was our angel here on Earth and now he’s an angel in the heavens. Everyone he met, he loved. He was so pure and humble. We will miss him deeply. To our Johnny Cakes, Johnny 5, Jigsaw John, We will carry you in our hearts forever. Rest in Paradise.
He is survived by his parents, Lee and Margaret Cutt, sister Melinda Martin (fiancée Michael),nephews: Jackson Red Bird, Jacob Horse, nieces: Stevie Red Bird, Lisa White, Ericka Horse, and grandchildren: Talon Red Bird, Memphis Red Bird, Chandler Red Bird, Ehanniwin Red Bird, Cassius Morrison, Wiyaka Ashley, Echanni Red Bird, Zuya Bad Hand, Canku Marshall, Johnna Red Bird, Gracie Cross, Maliah Good Voice Elk, Baby Moon White Mountain, uncles: Emmett Martin Jr., Ronnie Cutt, Talbert Cutt, Wayne Two Hearts, aunts: Alona Martin, Deborah Two Hearts, Marcella Cutt, Martha Martin, Lavina Cutt, and Corrina Cutt, and many cousins. John is preceded in death by his great-grandparents John and Fannie Standing Cloud, grandparents, Emmett and Myrtle Martin, Isaac and Helen Cutt, Lillian Martin, Uncles: Francis Cutt, Andrew Cutt Sr., aunties: Elsie Black Bull, Mary Jane Cutt, Charlotte Cutt, niece Cassandra LeDeaux, Lindsey Ortley; nephews, Baby Chip LeDeaux, Wilmer Ortley, and cousins Jeremy Cole Two Hearts, Jason Martin, Sarah Martin and Matthew Martin.