January 16, 1956 – Nov. 11, 2020 May 1, 1955 – Dec. 14, 2020
A private family service for Cheryl Taken Alive, 64, and Jesse “Jay” Taken Alive, 65, both of McLaughlin, was held December 22, 2020 at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge. Interment was December 23 in the Crazy Walking Family Cemetery, rural Fort Yates, ND, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home.
After forging a love story that lasted nearly 46 years, Cheryl Taken Alive (Anpao Tate Win) and Jesse “Jay” Taken Alive (Niyake Yuza) passed away within 33 days of each other at Sanford Broadway Medical Center in Fargo, ND. Cheryl passed on November 11, 2020, and Jay followed on December 14, 2020.
Cheryl Ann Walker was born January 16, 1956, to Charles and Luella (Frank) Walker in Fort Yates. She was raised on the family ranch at Walker Bottom in rural Fort Yates and graduated from Fort Yates High School in 1974. She was crowned FYHS Homecoming Queen in 1973. Cheryl attended National Business College in Rapid City and Standing Rock College in Fort Yates, where she earned a degree in Human Services.
After being a full-time mother and homemaker, Cheryl put her degree to work by serving the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in several jobs, including the Standing Rock Treatment Program, until her medical retirement in 2011.
Jesse “Jay” Brian Taken Alive was born May 1, 1955, to Peter and Imogene (Helper) Taken Alive in Fort Yates. He was raised in Little Eagle, Bullhead, Eagle Butte, and Rapid City. He graduated from Fort Yates High School in 1973. He was proud to have been a member of the Fort Yates Warriors boys basketball team that captured the North Dakota Class A State Championship in 1973. Jay attended Black Hills State University. A staunch advocate for education, Lakota language, Lakota culture, and sobriety, Jesse worked as a counselor at Standing Rock Treatment Program, and as an elected official. He was honored to serve as a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Council for 24 years, including a term as SRST Chairman from 1993 to 1997. His greatest passion was working with young people as an educator at schools in Little Eagle and McLaughlin. He worked tirelessly to preserve and enhance the Lakota language and culture. He was also a staunch advocate of upholding Lakota treaties and treaty rights, and cherished his working relationship with all Oceti Sakowin communities. Until his passing, he had “the perfect job,” serving as a Lakota language and culture teacher at McLaughlin High School.
Cheryl and Jay were united in marriage on January 2, 1975, and made their first home in Spearfish. They were blessed with five children—Ira, Nola, Carla, Jessie, and Jonas.
Jay and Cheryl maintained a steadfast faith in Wakan Tanka, and lived their life together in prayer and service to humanity. Jay and Cheryl rarely declined an invitation to assist with and attend Lakota naming ceremonies, mourning ceremonies, and comfort ceremonies. They loved the Lakota way of life and strived to embody Lakota values every day. Cheryl loved sewing, cooking, baking, shopping, playing bingo, watching the Lifetime Movie Network, Gameshow Network, and the Food Network, and occasionally visiting the local casinos. Jay enjoyed attending sporting events at all the local high schools, singing and learning Lakota songs, helping people learn Lakota language, spending time in his tipi, playing piano, watching television news channels, refereeing high school basketball games, hosting programs on KLND Radio, and building and repairing things.
Together, they loved traveling, going out to eat, camping, attending powwows, making new friends, visiting with friends and family, listening to music (with high volume), and hosting family dinners and gatherings.
Jay and Cheryl are survived by their children: Ira Taken Alive, Nola Taken Alive, and Carla (Dale) Taken Alive, all of McLaughlin, Jessie (Whitney) Rencountre of Rapid City, and Jonas (Lillian) Taken Alive of Mobridge; grandchildren: Gracey (Jerome), Jonah, Jaylee, Holly, Kiyela, Sophia, Bostin, Sadie, Jesse, and Mila; great-grandchildren Nolan, Maurice, and Opal; Cheryl’s brother, Martin (Mary) Walker; her sister-in-law Mary Beth Walker; her brother-in-law Robert Harris, Sr.; Jay’s siblings: Dave (Betty) Archambault, Wyman (Charlotte) Archambault, Virgil (Darlene) Taken Alive, sister-in-law Marsha Brave Thunder, Faith Taken Alive, Hank (Donna) Taken Alive, Ardyce Taken Alive, Leah Taken Alive, Robert Taken Alive, and Crawford (Juliana) Taken Alive; “Ina” Margaret Eaglestaff; numerous nephews and nieces, and countless “takozas.”
Cheryl and Jay were preceded in death by their parents, Aunt Delores Taken Alive, Jay’s brothers Arthur Taken Alive, Sr. and Victor Brave Thunder, and Cheryl’s brothers Robert Walker, Ralph (Alice) Walker, and Arnold Walker, and her sister Wanda Harris.