Tiffany Widow Shaving, 24, of Takini, passed away Friday, January 1, 2021 at Mandan, ND as the result of an automobile accident.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. MST, Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Takini School, Takini, SD. Burial will follow in St. Mark’s Cemetery, rural Red Scaffold. Wake services will be 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 15, 2021, at the school, with a procession starting at the 4-mile east of Eagle Butte at 2:00 p.m., stopping at the Ed Widow’s residence at 3:00 p.m.

Tiffany Delayne Shaving was born on Valentine’s day, 1996 while the song, “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen played. She was the eldest child of six, born an auntie. She was the last generation of babies born at the old hospital in Eagle Butte.

Our beautiful family has been forever changed when Tiffany journeyed to the Milky-way on New Year’s Day. The physical state in which she left will forever be ingrained into our memories until we meet again. The memories that our tiwahe want to share are the ones that made her who she will always be, fun and loving.

She was an amazing sister, kindhearted, and patient. It was the relationship with her siblings where she was the greatest. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her siblings, and they counted on that. So, one day, they called her and complained they couldn’t get something under the bed. Without hesitation, she went under the bed to retrieve the item, just her upper half of her body made it before her siblings held her down and spanked her for her birthday. They took off running, and I am certain she caught them for that.

Tiffany and her grandparents had a special beautiful relationship. In the Lakota tradition, it is said that the oldest belongs to the grandparents. That held true to the last day her grandma was on earth. She missed her grandma so much that we are comforted by a photo created by Sarah Widow (Norris’ Sarah). It shows Mom, Narcelle, Narcisse, Norma, Norris, and a photo of Tiffany was added.

Lala and Tiffany shared a relationship where she was never held back and would lovingly hug her Lala or sit near him. She would rub his back as she teased him about getting big. He was her biggest fan and supporter in all she did. He taught her how to rope, and ride at an early age. She was given a paint mare by her Lala she named Tiff Jones, which ended up being used to buck. Saige Reece added a note in her yearbook, “I hope your horse bucks off everyone this summer.”

The relationship between a daughter and father was so fun for Tiff. She learned to fish with her dad, and had no problem handling the worms. She got her first Red Ryder BB gun and her dad set up cans for her to shoot where she learned to be a good shot. She had a knack for using her hands building stuff. Her Uncle Byron set up a bow making class where she built her own bow, and her dad cut willow arrows for her to shoot with.

She was a daughter like no other. She was quiet and reverent when needed, but she was also vibrant and charismatic. You could see her coming as she stood tall over her peers as her smile radiated throughout the room when she entered. She was the one to go for help on phone and computer issues where she would call the company to complain and could get some kind of promotion at the same time, she was good. Always wheeling and dealing.

Her sense of humor and wit was extraordinary which led her to make many friends, coworkers, and students. She had a vast array of friends who she spent time with and created memories with them. One characteristic of Tiffany was she could tease herself and as the laughter ensued, so would the teasing. This was a regular occurrence wherever and whomever she was surrounded with.

In addition to being such a charming girl, she was a natural born athlete. She could throw a football and a softball. Her strength and height made her a tough power forward on the hardwood. She was able to gain more experience as Tiffany played with Mnicoujou Reign traveling team, going all the way as far as Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona. These were the best of times for her, Tahnee and the team players. She also had the opportunity to play in many basketball tournaments which her Lala and her dad were so excited to see her play. One notable basketball tournament she got all tourney in Cannonball. During that tournament, she excelled in the back court drawing down rebounds and dishing a pass out to Sadie In the Woods. These two remarkable players had their grandfathers watching them play, making hand motions to their granddaughters, and they were both visibly proud of the girls. One day, the other grandfather Mr. Herman, asked if my daughter was playing ball somewhere. I informed him that she became a momma to three babies. He smiled and said that his granddaughter did the same. He said Tiffany was a good ball player, and he enjoyed watching them play in Cannonball. That went a long way for her when she was told of the compliment.

As with every human being capable of loving, she fell in love and from this union she has two daughters with Carlin Mellette. Both girls were born in July, Colbie on July 10, 2015 and Dylan on July 28, 2016. Later in 2018, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, she named Alijah Jo Laducer, the last time she held and kissed her baby daughter was January 4, 2019. She loved being a momma and enjoyed spending time with them.

Throughout the birth and arrival of her daughters, Tiffany continued to pursue her degree in elementary education where she wanted to be a teacher. She took a break from college to work in order to support her daughters. She worked at Tiospaye Topa, and Takini School, where she made many friends and enjoyed being with her relatives in both areas. She loved her job because of the student and staff. There were many times she would be baking and wrapping gifts late into the night for a student who had a birthday.

She began working at the school where she grew up, Takini. She was so happy and spoke of how much she missed her many relatives and former teachers. She said she had fun helping her favorite teacher Brian Olson with the computer for virtual learning. She related that she was happy to see her former bus drivers, now coworkers. When she got the news that she got a house, it was an exciting time for her and her family. Her dad helped her move in and assembled all her furniture and clean her home. He remembers how she came back from a long day of shopping to a warm beautiful home complete with a home cooked meal. It was a happy and glorious time for her family.

The best times of her life was planning trips to go swimming, she took her sisters with her to help and create memories for Colbie and Dylan. She helped her parents with the younger siblings, so her siblings returned the favor and always helped with their nieces. They are the greatest joy of our tiwahe. We will continue to create memories for them with their momma always in our hearts and minds.

She had many other relationships outside of what was aforementioned. She touched the hearts of many people, especially her students who have messaged how much she is missed and loved. We regret we had no time to enlist everyone’s memories but encourage everyone to write a letter to Colbie and Dylan about their momma. That would be the greatest gift to them to have those memories to hold close to their hearts, the rest of their lives, until they see their momma again.

She is survived by her three daughters: Colbie Alaina, Dylan Lynsey, Allijah Jo; siblings: Tahnee, Talon, Taitlyn (Cole), Tamaori, and Tiarah Shaving; parents, Tommy and Nadine; maternal grandfather, Edward Widow; paternal grandparents, Ted and Roberta Running Wolf; uncles, Edmund (Sarah) Widow and Edwin Widow; and significant other, Carlin Mellette.

Preceding her in death are Grandma Delma; uncles and aunts: Narcelle, Narcisse, Norma, Norris, and Norvold Widow and numerous other relatives.

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

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