Funeral services for TaeLonna F. (Kirkie) Seeking Land, 22,  of Fort Thompson, SD will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Crow Creek Tribal Gymnasium in Fort Thompson, SD with burial in the Lakeview Cemetery at Fort Thompson, SD.  Wake services will be 8:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday at the Crow Creek Tribal Gymnasium in Fort Thompson, SD.

Anyone wishing to follow, the procession will leave at 12:00 (NOON) p.m.  on Thursday from the funeral home.

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TaeLonna passed away on October 28, 2023 at Sanford Medical Center in Chamberlain, SD.

Taelonna Francesca Seeking Land was born August 21, 2001, to Merle Seeking Land and Kessa Kirkie at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell SD. She was raised by her Grandmother Carole Seeking Land.   Taelonna attended her secondary years of school at St. Joe's Indian School where she was baptized, Chamberlain High School, and Crow Creek High School,.  She was selected to the National Honor Society and received many awards. She attended Chamberlain High School and in 2020 graduated from Crow Creek Tribal Schools where she met many lifelong friends who became like family to her. She was recently employed at Early Headstart in Fort Thompson SD. where she loved working with children and co-workers.

She enjoyed cooking for her Grandma Carole, taking pictures with her baby girl and spending time at the river with family/friends. Her favorite color was purple. She was a loving, kind, confident, beautiful person inside and out.  She always had a smile to share, forgiving words and a heart full of love.

Taelonna's recent life revolved around her daughter, Amaris Akoya Seeking Land. She gave birth to her precious baby girl on June 24, 2021. Taelonna was the most loving mother, Amaris is her whole world.  Amaris is a blessing to our family and we are thankful to still have that little piece of Taelonna near us. Taelonna was a precious, sweet soul. She loved spending time with her family. She loved get-togethers by the river to celebrate special occasions. When there was a new baby in the family, she was the first one there. She loved watching and working with little ones. She was an amazing caretaker. Taelonna wanted everyone to get along and show love no matter what. She wanted peace around her. And now, our precious girl is at complete peace.

She loved her make-up and eyelashes. She had a keen sense of fashion and loved dressing up.

Taelonna Francesca is survived by her father Merle, her mother, Kessa Joy Kirkie, her brothers Anferenee, Trey, Tayeden, and Ryder, her sister Brynlee (Rosa) and most importantly her daughter Amaris Akoya. Taelonna was a complete "Gramma's Girl" and is survived by her paternal Grandmother Carole Seeking Land, her maternal grandmothers: Kally Kirkie, Katie Kirkie, Laurie Hall (Tuttle), Ronnette Kirkie, and Brenda Kirkie-Sazue, and Grandpa Larry Barker, and Grandparents Darrel and Rozelle Lockwood.

She was protected throughout her life by her many uncles and aunts: Aunty Lorie, Aunty Cristina and Uncle Gregory "Bim", Lynn Cuny (White), Ray Cuny, Tera Cuny (Baker), Joe Cuny, Isaiah Veo, Tanner Veo, Evette Veo, Stella Veo, Mike Red Tomahawk, Maria Kirkie (Provost), Tashina Kirkie, Danielle Lucy Kirkie (Johnson), Heaven Marie Kirkie, Austin Kirkie, Jordan Kirkie, Beth Hope Kirkie, Georganne Tuttle, Rebecca Tuttle, Ashley Tuttle, Shelly Hall, Dewey Tuttle, Audrey Hall, Sheila Hall, Mariah Sazue, Cooper Walton, Ronni Walton, Jolonna Sazue, Joseph Sazue III, Ronessa Sazue, and Brenden Sazue.

Taelonna Francesca was loved by numerous cousins, who were also like siblings to her including her cousin "Sisters" Teah and Kira Seeking Land and family along with numerous other cousins and dear friends.

Taelonna is a decedent of Chief Drifting Goose.

Preceding her in death were her loved ones: Ronald Kirkie, Sr. (great-grandfather), Marie Bird (great-grandmother), Marie Alice Kirkie (grandmother), Ronald "Butch" Kirkie, Jr. (grandfather), and Terry Cuny (grandfather), Grandpa Emery Lounder, Great Grandparents Edward and Mary Ann Barker.