LeLani Rai Running Bear Obituary (1971 - 2020)

LeLani Rai (Caske) Chapman-Running Bear (Wah'c'a Ska Win') "White Flower Women" was born March 6, 1971 at Fort Yates, ND, to the late Vincent (Sr.) and Ladene (Running Bear) Chapman. She was the first born grandchild of the late Joseph and Grace (Fool Bear) Caske Running Bear. LeLani was raised by her aunt Lavonne Running Bear, whom accepted her as her own. Lavonne always encouraged LeLani and was very proud of her. LeLani was raised and educated in Fort Yates, ND, where she was active in cheerleading, track, band and student council. She graduated with honors in the class of 1989, she then had dreams to join the military but due to past health conditions she was denied the opportunity to serve our country. She attended Sitting Bull College where she received a A.A.S in Business Administration, she worked at the Standing Rock High School as a receptionist, she then used her degree at the S.R. Tribal Courts. She also worked as a cocktail waitress at Prairie Knights Casino and as a Bartender at her adoptive father's, the late Larry Froelich, establishment "The Last Chance Saloon". In 1990, LeLani gave birth to her only daughter, Wyslee Grace. She raised Wyslee as a single mother in college. She married Thomas DuBray in . Thomas raised Wyslee as his own and later LeLani gave birth to their son Steven Charles. LeLani was strongly involved in the No DAPL protest camp, where she was a cook. She met many people there who helped her find her spiritual belief. She loved to attend powwows, to hear the drum groups and watch the dancers, especially her granddaughters and daughter. LeLani survived by her mother, Lavonne; her children, Wyslee and Steven; ex-husband, Thomas; granddaughters, Bryleigh, Maiah and Izayah; brother, Vincent (Jr.) Chapman; a special little brother, Marcus See Walker, (all of Fort Yates); adoptive parents, Darcy and Clarice Medicine Stone (Twinn Buttes, ND); adoptive mother, Charlene Fredricks; sister, Everetta See Walker; god-daughter, Josephine Laundreaux; nieces and nephews, Cash, Samaya, Mirah, Wichapi, Aurora, Rilee, Annabell, Cayn, and Qynn; aunts, Averdell (Running Bear) See Walker, Valerie Eagleshield, Evelyn Good House, and April Chapman, (all of Fort Yates), Jean and Denise Chapman (Bismarck, ND); grandmothers, Bernice Jones and Beatrice Dwarf (Fort Yates); uncles, Phil St. John (Mandan), George Fool Bear, Ervin Plenty Chief (Cannonball), Randy (Jude) Phelan (Mandaree), Mike Faith (Fort Yates); adoptive children Marcellus and Marcy Red Tomahawk (Cannonball). She was preceded by her parents, Vincent Chapman Sr., and Ladene (Running Bear) Chapman; maternal grandparents, Joseph and Grace (Fool Bear) Running Bear; paternal grandparents, James and Virginia (Shell Track) Chapman; uncles, Leo, Virgil, Leonard, Rueban (Caske) Running Bear; sisters, Stephanie Medicine Stone and Jacilene (Running Bear) Grey; cousins, Stanley See Walker Jr., Charles and Yana Running Bear; godparents, Albert (Bud) and Eunice (White Temple) Gipp; and numerous grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.