Funeral services for Vivian G. "Inky" Weddle, 68, of Sioux Falls formerly of Lower Brule, SD will be Thursday, March 16, 2023 at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule, SD with burial in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery at Stephan, SD.  Wake services will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule, SD.

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Vivian Gay Weddle "Inky" (Otakuye ob Wiya K′ci omani s′e – She Walks With Her Relatives), 68, made her journey to the Spirit World on March 10, 2023 at her daughter Baunita's home surrounded by family in Sioux Falls, SD after a courageous fight with the lung cancer.

Inky, our heavenly angel flew down to earth on New Year's Day in 1955 at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, SD to Ella Fallis Collins.  Inky grew up between the Crow Creek Reservation along the Missouri River and Pierre.  She was raised by her mom Ella in Pierre, and Aunt Hilda and Uncle Vilas Fallis in Big Bend, SD.

She was called Inky because at birth she was placed in an incubator by the doctor and the delivery team.

Inky attended Immaculate Conception Mission School at Stephan, SD until the eighth grade.  Her freshman year she attended an all-girls school at Harmony Hill in Watertown.  She then returned to Stephan for her sophomore year where she met the love of her life Ron "Gob" Fleury.  From this relationship four daughters were born.  She worked for the Head Start Program as a teacher from 1987 until 2004, then for the Dakota Senior Meals for the next 17 years.  For a year after that, she cooked at Chamberlain High School before being employed with Home Instead for six years.

Viv was a firm believer and protector of her family.  She would go to great lengths to support and "stick up" for her kids and grandkids whenever that time came. And when she did, get out of the way!

She proved herself as a wonderful and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt.  She always put in that extra effort for her children and grandchildren by taking them to basketball practice, visiting relatives, shopping at the Dollar Store and more.  She was there to care about their every need.  She never stopped loving them with all her heart. Although she has left her children and grandchildren here on earth, she will always be in their hearts and minds for the rest of their lives.

"A mother like you is rare, one that's so generous, smart, and kind.  A mother and grandmother like you are what everyone needs, full of smiles and laughter, always doing great things.  Nothing can replace a mother and grandmother like you, but when you return to Heaven, God will be lucky to have you again."

She also had a passion for taking pictures of family members and posting them on social media with humorous quotes.

Inky is survived by two brothers K.C. (Tina) Russell, Cody (Emma) Russell; two sisters Connie Russell-Henrichsen and Roxanne Russell-Schmidt; two daughters Baunita (Zack) Fernandez and Tanya Fleury; grandchildren Catessa Fleury, Simone Rabago, Nikkia Rabago, Aailyah Rabago, Mia Rabago, and Alecia Rabago, Acacia Skunk, Hannah Skunk, and Isaiah Bad Horse; and great grandchildren Ryder Rabago, Brilee Sazue, Reign Skunk, Bryson Sazue, Harvey Walker†, Asher Elfers†, Cindy Rae Fleury†, and Ronna Marie Fleury†. Inky took in a two year old boy, Christopher Johnson, and a mother/son relationship developed.  She also had a Hunka grandson Joshua Pickner.

Preceding her in death were her parents, two sisters Kay Gourneau and Baunita Ness, and two brothers Faye Jandreau and Dean Jandreau.