Graveside services will be 1:00 pm Monday, December 28, 2020 at the Holy Name Episcopal Cemetery at Fort George, SD.  Visitation will be from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Goose Camp Lodge, (31252 wakpa place, Fort Pierre SD 57532) at Fort George, SD.

Due to COVID concerns the family is requesting that face masks be worn at all times during the services.

Linda Jo. Thompson-Sewell, 71, of Kimball, SD, made her journey to the Spirit world on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota after a hard fought battle with COVID-19.

Linda was born on March 8, 1949 to Joseph "Jiggs" and Helen (Robson) Thompson in Sioux Falls, SD. She is a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and was very proud of her heritage and Lakota name Wičhápi Wašté Wiŋ "Good Star Woman."

Linda is the older of her two sisters Martha and Julie and spent most of her childhood on the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation. Growing up, Linda enjoyed riding horses, helping her mom in the kitchen, learning how to sew and spending time in the country with family and friends. She was well known for being quite the barrel racer and always enjoyed attending rodeos whenever she could.

She graduated 8 ^th grade from Lower Brule Day School and attended Reliance High School. After obtaining her GED, she later graduated from Barnes Business College in Denver, Colorado in 1979. In 1995, Linda received her Associates Degree in Business Management at Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

On, October 29, 1965, Linda married Robert Ducheneaux. To this union, Linda and Robert had three children; Donna, Bobbi Jo., and Joseph.

While living in Aberdeen, SD, Linda worked for Indian Health Service for several years. She eventually moved back home to the Lower Brule reservation in 1996 after her father passed away. She was so glad to be back home on the ranch near her mother and closer to her children and grandchildren.  During this time, she discovered her new love and passion for beadwork and sewing Native American regalia any chance she got. She was able to share her moccasin patterns with others and always enjoyed teaching her grandchildren her talents. When visiting Linda, you could be sure she would whip up a batch of cinnamon rolls, bread, and soup or just about anything, you wanted at any time of the day! She really had the best time visiting at her home and always had such a contagious giggle that made for such an enjoyable visit.

Linda found great joy touring and dancing in her traditional regalia with the Brulé music group across South Dakota and the United States. She will always be known as a classy Native American lady who valued her Lakota culture.

Dancing in her traditional regalia that she personally handmade, making old time western wear, and reminiscing with her Kul Wicasa Sisters was always a highlight of her summertime. Through her travels and time away from South Dakota, Linda always enjoyed when she could come back to visit her children and grandchildren whom she cherished.

In 2020, Linda moved back home to South Dakota from Tombstone, Arizona to be closer to her family and tend to her health after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Although cancer was hard on her body, Linda continued to stay optimistic and do whatever she needed in order to enjoy her life.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Linda became very ill and made her journey home with her husband and family by her side sooner than we all were ready for. We can all find hope, peace, and comfort knowing that Linda lived a full life filled with her beautiful family, cherished friends and doing what she loved. There is no doubt that she dancing in the skies above.

She is survived by her husband William Sewell, her children; Donna (Danielle and Tyler Kucera, Corbin and Kasy Surat & Jaxon Ducheneaux), Bobbi Jo. & Kraig Sinclair (Emily, Grace, Alison, and Park Sinclair), Joseph & Alicia Ducheneaux (Jake and Chad Ducheneaux), Canbie Thompson, grandson Hunter Thompson and special niece Faith Begay-Dominique.

Linda was very blessed with ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; Deja, Ada, Jake, Stella, Albani and Greyleigh.

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brothers Joseph Jr. and Benjamin William, and her son Damien Thompson.