Waho’siyapi Wo’was’ake Winyan, Power of the Message Woman

Naomi N. Kasto, a beloved mother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Monument Health, Rapid City surrounded by loved ones.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. MDT, Monday, March 17, 2025, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in Green Grass Cemetery, Green Grass. A wake service will be 6:00 p.m., Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the church with a procession from the 4-Mile at 3:00 p.m. All who loved her are welcome to join in remembering this incredible woman who touched so many lives.

Naomi was born on February 13, 1976, to Marilyn Grace (Hawkeagle) Kasto and Abraham Kasto. She was the third of five children and was raised in a family that instilled strength, love, and connection to their Lakota heritage. Naomi was a proud member of the Minicojou and Itazipco bands of the Lakota Nation. Her Lakota name is Waho’siyapi Wo’was’ake Winyan, meaning Power of the messenger woman.

Growing up, Naomi was full of life and energy. As a teenager, she was an avid basketball player, always playing with passion and joy. She was known for living life to the fullest, embracing each day with a vibrant spirit. In her late twenties, Naomi developed a love for darts and enjoyed spending time with her many friends, attending baseball games, and making lasting memories.

A woman of perseverance, Naomi earned her GED in her early twenties and later went on to receive an associate degree in Small Business Management from United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota. She continued her education at University of North Dakota hoping to receive a bachelor’s degree but had to withdraw to return home and help her father who suffered from a stroke. Naomi was a fierce advocate for herself and her family, always striving to create a better future for those she loved.

In her early thirties, Naomi was diagnosed with Lupus, a chronic illness that caused many ups and downs in her health. Despite the pain and the many challenges, the disease brought, she faced each day with incredible strength, determination, and perseverance. She worked hard to not let Lupus rule her life, always pushing forward with resilience, courage, and a fierce love for her family.

Naomi’s spiritual journey deepened in her later years. She began reconnecting with her Native spirituality, and in time, she became a Sundancer at the International Sundance in Green Grass, South Dakota, where she completed her four-year commitment to the sacred ceremony. Her spirituality was a source of strength and guidance throughout her life.

In her forties, Naomi made the decision to move home to Eagle Butte, South Dakota, to be closer to her parents and family. There, she worked for many years at the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, where she became a strong advocate for the children and families she served. Naomi’s dedication to the community led her to start the Toys for Tots program, a testament to her caring nature and constant desire to give back to those in need. Her kindness and generosity will be remembered by everyone who knew her.

In the last year of her life, Naomi faced the heartbreaking loss of her mother, Marilyn Grace Kasto. This grief led Naomi to seek comfort in her community, and she found solace by attending cultural nights at the local cultural center. There, she learned how to sew and passed on the traditions her mother had instilled in her and her siblings. This time of learning and growth allowed her to reconnect with her aunts, cousins, and extended family, strengthening bonds and providing comfort in the face of her loss. Her deep connection to her family was both a source of healing and a testament to her enduring love for those closest to her.

Naomi was a single mother to her two children, Kallison Kasto and Liam Clown, and she poured all of her love and strength into raising them. She also helped her younger sister raise her children along with her own, showing the depth of her devotion to family. Naomi was a true warrior, embodying the resilience and power of her Lakota heritage.

Naomi is survived by her children, Kallison (Wambli Wacinhin) Kasto and baby son Liam Kasto; cherished niece Aspyn Kasto and nephew Camden Dauphinais; Her father Abraham Kasto; siblings Dulcie Keith, Winona Kasto, Moria Kasto and Seanacy Kasto; Grandmother Margie (Bluecoat) Clown; Aunts Carrie and Carla Bluecoat, Reba (Tom)Threelegs, Iva Traversie, Pat Red Fox, Faye(Blue Coat) Swan, Gayle Dupris, Candace High Elk, Sylvia Picotte, Jackie Dunn and Nancy Red Dog; Irma LaPlante;  Betty (Dave) Archambault, Karen Nellie Lebeau and Inez Roather; Theresa Kasto, Lucy Kasto; Uncles Ian Kasto; Uncles Richard Red Elk, Greg and Marty Thompson, Marvin, Merell, Sam High Elk, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and one Great-grandson Delmar Scott West.

She was preceded in death by her mother Marilyn Grace (Hawk Eagle) Kasto; Maternal Grandmothers Elinor Rose (Blue Coat) Bad hand, Cora Mae Marshall, Alberta Haw Eagle, Carol Ann Thompson, Ruby Red Dog; Maternal Grandfather Benjamin Hawk Eagle, Joe Blue Coat, Robert Archie Blue Coat, Jerry Blue Coat  Aunt; Doris Hawk Eagle and Frances Hawk Eagle, Mandi Sands, Harriett Blue Coat;  Uncles Donovan, Frank, Darrell, Allen, and Benjamin Jr. Hawkeagle, Phillip Blue Coat, Ira Blue Coat.

Naomi’s legacy of love, strength, and kindness will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

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

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