Dawnena Deborah Howell

She was born June 1, 1928 to George and Inez Eastman, in Aberdeen, SD, and was adopted by Millie Ree Chief Anderson when she was 3. She is survived by her children, Vergil “Duke” Howell, Jr., Carrie Howell, and Debbie Howell all of Colorado Springs, Verla Howell of Denver, and Mary (Willie) Wolf of Gig Harbor, WA; grandchildren Dawnena Michelle (Larry) Key, Marcey (Bryan) Hodshire, Chaske Wolf, Steven Howell, Derek (Dory) Howell, and Robert Many Lightnings Williams, and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her beloved dog, PepC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Vergil Howell, Sr., sister Dorothy Eastman Miller, and brothers George Stenson and Sgt. Major (Ret) Joseph Martin USMC.

She was an enrolled member of the Sisseton/Wahpeton Dakota Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, SD. She spent her childhood in Elbowoods, ND, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. She attended Fort Sill Indian School and Bacone College in Oklahoma. After she met her husband, she lived in Fort Hood, TX, Poitiers, France, and Oklahoma before moving to Colorado Springs. Nena was in the first graduating class at El Paso Community College, now known as Pikes Peak State College. She retired from Shepards Citations, now known as LexisNexis. She was active in the Native community, including Pikes Peak Intertribal, Native American Women’s Association, White Buffalo Council (Denver), Lone Feather Council. She was an avid reader and loved puzzles of all kinds. She was a skilled seamstress who created traditional Native American clothing for her family spanning three generations. She won awards for her beautiful beadwork. She loved watching the birds and the deer that wandered past her home.

Nena was an extraordinary Mother and Grandmother. She raised her children with the Love of God, to appreciate education, and participate in community service.

Visitation will be from Thursday, Feb. 23, 4pm-7pm and a Celebration of Life Service will be Friday, Feb. 24 at 10 am, both at Swan Law Funeral Home. A reception will follow. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.