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August 9, 1925 – November 30, 2023
Tatanka Win (Buffalo Woman), Mnicoujou Lakota, Vivian Traversie, 98, of Eagle Butte, passed away peacefully Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Indian Health Services, Eagle Butte, South Dakota, surrounded by her family.
Wake services will be 6:00 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2023, at the St. John’s Episcopal Church and funeral services on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the St. Paul Episcopal Cemetery in LaPlant, SD.
Tatanka Win (Buffalo Woman), Vivian Traversie was born on August 9, 1925, at Four Bear village located at Old Cheyenne Agency camp to Jennie White Eyes Logg and Grover Red Fox, where she attended school. Vivian was raised by her mother and stepfather, Frank Logg.
As a fluent Lakota speaker, Vivian provided her family with invaluable insight and knowledge. Vivian was a caretaker for the elderly in Eagle Butte during the 1970’s. Vivian helped the elderly by doing their errands and maintaining their homes. Vivian also served as a custodian for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, a role she took great pride in. Vivian always went the extra-mile by preparing and cleaning the coffee cups used by the tribal staff and Tribal Council. Vivian also worked for the U.S. Post Office in Eagle Butte. During the Boarding School movement, Vivian sent all of her children away to boarding school where they were forbidden to speak our Lakota language and where they were unable to visit their extended family or practice their traditional ways. Vivian decided to send her children away so they could have a fighting chance in the modern world, where they would need to be resilient, courageous, and respectful of our Lakota traditions if they were to succeed. Vivian maintained a reclusive lifestyle, which she maintained throughout her life.
Vivian later married Theodore “Skido” Traversie and they enjoyed traveling across the country to compete in the horseshoe tournaments. In her spare time, she sewed quilts, and she was very proud of the quilt she made that went to a Tennessee Church organization mission. Vivian taught her daughters and granddaughters how to sew and how to make star quilts. She taught them all how to sew by hand, cut out diamonds, and embroider. She enjoyed making crazy block quilts and customized requests. Vivian also enjoyed going to dances, hosting dance parties, and listening to her children and grandchildren perform karaoke at family gatherings. Vivian acted as a role model for other elders to follow through a humble, customary manner that is expected of Lakota people. Vivian appreciated a very independent life and would recall the hardships everyone went through at the Old Agency Camp before any government programs were made available to the people. When times were tough, everyone back then helped one another out and lifetime friendships were formed.
Vivian’s family was proud the Tribe recognized her as the oldest surviving member of the Old Cheyenne Agency to honor her and express gratitude for her service to the Tribe in a manner fitting for the Lakota Nation. The Tribe proclaimed September 5th as Vivian Traversie Day.
Those left to cherish her life include her surviving children, Wanda Lind, William Carter, Clayton Carter (Cortez, Colorado), Carol Traversie, Mike Red Fox (Huron, SD), Cathy Yellow Hawk, Loren Traversie, Mary Ellen Traversie, Gerald Traversie, Connie (Kurt) Cross and Derek Bartlett. Vivian had 43 grandchildren, 106 great grandchildren, 61 great, great grandchildren and one special great, great, great granddaughter, making 6 generations during her lifetime.
Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Skido Traversie; one son Bernard Carter, two daughters; Cindy Lou Traversie and Ruth Ann Traversie; two brothers, Steve and Harry Red Fox; and one sister, Beatrice Red Fox. 8 grandchildren.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Vivian Traversie, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
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