Robert St. John

Robert St. John

May 25, 1946 - Sunday, February 10, 2019

Service Information

SWO Community Center, Old Agency Village, SD

Friday, February 15, 2019

10:00 AM

Visitation Information

SWO Community Center, Old Agency Village, SD

Wednesday & Thursday

Wed. at 7 pm & Thurs. at 6 pm

Robert Edward St. John, Napa-Sni-Duta "Not Afraid of Red", age 72, of Moorhead, MN journeyed to the Spirit World on February 10, 2019.

He was born on May 27, 1946 in Sisseton, SD the son of Edward St. John and Celesta LaBlanc.

He attended grade school at the Stephan Indian School in Stephan, SD and Tekawitha in Sisseton, SD.

He graduated high school from North High in Minneapolis, MN. He then attended college at North Dakota State University in the Veteran's Outreach Program in Fargo, ND.

Robert worked as a Native American Outreach Counselor at North High School in Minneapolis and the Gilfillin Center in Bemidji, MN. He went on to work as a bus driver, secretary and teacher's aide (all at one time!) at Ponemah Elementary School in Ponemah, MN. Robert then worked as a Dietician at the VA Medical Center in Fargo, ND where he retired in 2015.

He enlisted in the United States Army on January 18, 1968 and served with the 82nd Airborne Division with specialized Pathfinder, LRRP training.

He is survived by his wife Andrea Sigana-St. John; children "Chaske" Andrew Lee St. John, Hupan Edith St. John and Owi-dusna-waste-win Esther St. John; six grandchildren; step-children Richard L. Defoe Jr. and Brooke L. Defoe; brothers Phillip St. John, Rodney St. John, Theodore St. John, Kenneth St. John, Roger St. John and Jack Jeffers; many other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by his father Edward Moses St. John; his mother Celesta La Blanc-St. John; maternal grandmother Grace Wanna; maternal grandfather Peter La Blanc; paternal grandmother Elizabeth Nelson; paternal grandfather Moses St. John; brothers Timothy St. John, Edward St. John, Sanford Jeffers, Marlin Smith and Jeff Jeffers; sisters Louise St. John, Patricia St. John; Yvonne St. John and Jennifer St. John; daughter Opoganwin Celeste St. John; granddaughter Siha-duta-wiin St. John and step-son O'oschiicha Defoe.

Funeral services for Robert St. John will be held on Friday, February 15, 2019 at 10 AM at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Community Center in Agency Village. Spiritual Leaders will be Arnold Williams and Tom Bullhead. Dakota Nation will be the Drum Group. Interment at St. Matthew's Cemetery in Veblen, SD.

All night wakes will be held Wednesday, February 13 beginning at 7 PM and Thursday, February 14 beginning at 6 PM at the Community Center.

Honorary casket bearers will be Nettie Kirk, Stacy Alan Wanna, Perry Lufkins, Tom Bullhead, Doug Herman, Duane Wanna, Terry and Marcy Fiddler and Family, Joe Running Bear Family, The Sandman Veteran Honor Guard, Willard Yellow Bird and the entire Yellow Bird Family, Francis Mazawasicuna Family, Terry and Adeline Dixon and Family, Lee and Nelda Goodman Family, Bob Jenkins, Jimmy Phillbrick, Robert Grant, Donald "Jughead" Hill, Oliver Gourd, Larry and Charlene Cozad, Louis and Maybelle Cozad, Greg and Janet Bass, Ronald Goodeagle Sr. and Family, Odell St. John and Family, Jim St. John and Family, Kelly St. John and Family, Cody Seaboy, Michael Fairbanks, Charging Brothers, all his friends and relatives across the nation not mentioned here.

Casket Bearers will be Jameson Cozad, Anthony St. John, Peter Bass, Brandon St. John, Sequoyah St. John, Kyle Jeffers, Andrew St. John-Jeffers, Carlos Casarez, Julio Casarez and Robert White Mountain.

Chilson Funeral Home, Winsted, MN served the family.