Tipi Win Obituary

Rita Regina Long Visitor Holy Dance was born on June 25, 1925 in Pine Ridge, SD to Rex Long Visitor-Holy Dance Sr, and Antonia Sierra. Rita made her journey to the Spirit World on October 25, 2025 at her home in Slim Buttes, SD.
Rita Regina Long Visitor Holy Dance, Oglala Lakota was born May 25, 1925, in the community of Loafers Camp, about 5 miles west from Pine Ridge Village on (now) Slim Buttes Road to Rex James Long Visitor Holy Dance and Antonia Grace Sierra.
Rita was fluent in Lakota and was raised in the traditional Lakota ways as was everyone from that generation. Rita was born about 11 months after Native Americans were granted US citizenship. Rita was taken to Holy Rosary Mission when she was of school age. Her memories of those years there were marked by stories of harsh discipline as they were taught a new way, Christianity but she never forgot her Lakota ways and language. After graduating 8th grade Rita was looking forward to high school but wasn't able to go as her mother took ill, passing away 4 years later. Not being able to finish her high school years stayed with Rita all her life. Then in 2024 she was given an honorary high school diploma from Rio Rancho Public School, Rio Rancho, NM.
Though she wasn't able to complete formal high school education while being home, she learned traditional Lakota ways from her father's aunts. Rita married a soldier, with whom they became parents later in their marriage. Rita embraced her motherhood and advocated in her own words "Children Always Come First".
Rita lived her whole life in traditional Lakota ways. The past 21 years she served on The International Council of Indigenous Grandmothers, from 2019 she served as the eldest grandmother on the council.
Rita is survived by daughter Twila (Dennis) Blindman Dixie; sons Duane Blindman, Nathaniel Blindman, Stuart (Renee) Blindman, Travis (Gina) Afraid of Bear; First cousin Charles "Chuck" Bennet; as well as numerous nephews/nieces, numerous grandson/granddaughters, great grandchildren, and great great-grandchildren all of whom she loved dearly.
Rita was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents James Long Visitor Holy Dance and Mary Runs Between. Her maternal grandparents Silverano Sierra and Mary No Relation; her parents, Rex Long Visitor Holy Dance Sr. and Antonia Grace Sierra; sons Delmar, Patrick and Stanley Blindman; siblings Rex Long Visitor Holy Dance Jr, Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance Weasel Bear; 1st cousin Bernard Red Cloud, Bessie Little Hawk and nephews Fontenelle Afraid of Bear, Gerald Red Cloud and John Billy Sierra.
Pallbearers will be Jason Blindman, Wakan Waci Blindman, Wakinyan Blindman, Ho Wast'e Blindman, Robert Stagner, Rex Stagner, James Stagner, Robert Afraid of Bear, Norman Afraid of Bear
Honorary pallbearers will be the Slim Buttes Community, The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers and All Friends & Relatives.
Wake Services: Two night wake services starting at 2:00 PM, Thursday, October 30, 2025 at her residence in Slim Buttes, SD with evening services starting at 7:00 PM.
Funeral Services: 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 1, 2025 at her residence in Slim Buttes, SD
Officiating: Pastor John Bush
Traditional Lakota Services: Ivan Looking Horse
Burial Services: Family Cemetery, Slim Buttes, South Dakota
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD
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