William Graves, 1981-2022
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted May 16, 2022 | 9:21 AM / 425 views
Funeral services for William Graves, 40, of Little Eagle will be held at 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the Elkhorn Congregational Church in Little Eagle. Burial will be in the Shoots The Enemy Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. A procession will begin at 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 16, from Kesling’s followed by a wake service at 7:00 p.m. at the church in Little Eagle.
William passed away Saturday, May 7, 2022, at his home in Little Eagle.
William Robert Graves was born on December 26, 1981 to Francine (Shoots the Enemy) Gilbert and Harold Graves, Sr. He’s the youngest of 8, with the nickname “Baby”. In later years, his oldest brother, Fred, gave him the nickname Willis, and that’s what he was known by more commonly. He was a member of the Red Lake Chippewa/Ojibwe, along with his dad. He passed away in his home in Little Eagle SD, where he resided for most of his life.
In October 2000 he married Doye Archambault, and to this union they welcomed a son, William Wallace Graves on December 6th, whom Willis has always been very proud of.
Willis was a humble and compassionate man. He was always helping his sisters in one way or another when he was around; his sense of humor always lightening the mood. His cooking and baking skills were phenomenal. He was always taking charge in the kitchen whipping up great meals and desserts, and loved grilling out especially.
He was sister, Lynsie’s right hand, helping her with the boys, Milan and Phoenix. He was special papa to Phoenix, who followed him around, sat with him or beside him wherever he went, and depended on him for additional nurturing. Willis belonged to takoja Phoenix and Phoenix belonged to papa Willis.
We will all miss him so very much as he joins those of our tiwahe in the spirit world.
Willis was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Graves, Sr. and Francine Shoots the Enemy Gilbert, his paternal grandparents, Robert Graves and Genevieve Downwind, maternal grandparents, Sophie and Leo Shoots the Enemy of Little Eagle, siblings, Frederick F Gilbert II, Fredericka L Gilbert, and Davine R Gilbert, McChaz Charles Shoots the Enemy, Sunshine E White, Dawn “Susie” Little Dog, and So many more loved ones.
William is survived by his son, William Wallace Graves; siblings: Harold Graves Jr (Marlene L), Lynsie Gilbert, Jewel Gilbert (MHF), Denise Gilbert, and Daniel Hawk of Flandreau SD; his tonjans: Arlene Shoots the Enemy, Dorothy Locke, Sylvia Culbertson, Hazel Culbertson, Marlene Olvera, Lavina Long Elk; his Graves tiospaye: Uncle Jerome Graves, Leonard Cloud, Auntie Carol Cloud, Mike Graves, along with other tiwahe.