JOHN WRIGHT
Funeral services for John Wright, will be held Wednesday, April 13 at 11 a.m., at the White Swan Community Center in Lake Andes. Burial is in the Greenwood Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Greenwood, with military honors. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner is in charge of arrangements.
John Wright was born November 1, 1942 to Alfreda Drapeau and Steve Wright in Wagner. He died Thursday, April 7, 2022 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Wagner.
John attend elementary school at St. Paul’s Indian Mission in Marty. He grew up on both the Rosebud and Yankton Reservations. He was a boxer and athlete as a young man. At age 19, he joined the US Army and went on to California, where he lived many years. John was the father of three children: Russell Wright, Greta (Andrews) Moya and Anthony Martinez and two grandchildren.
John was a skilled craftsman and tradesman and worked in various work forces during his lifetime. Many people will be reminded of John’s work through his building and designing of items he constructed in our homes throughout the reservation. He was the guy we all called to help with refurbishing and fixing those broken structures in our homes. If you needed help with almost anything, he was there whether he was paid or not. You might also catch him at any powwow singing at the drum or visiting with people who like to laugh. You couldn’t miss his smiling eyes and happy face. His cordial gentle manner was a gift to all of us.
John was a man interested in the history of our Tribal nations and worked to understand how history impacted our living today. He studied the treaties that were signed between our people and the United States of America and the treatment of Native people since those times. He knew the injustices and worked to understand what changes could be made today to improve our lives.
He used to say that he was a spiritual being having a human experience. As a regular supporter and singer of the Sundances in our community, you could see him carrying his chair where ever there was a drum to join in. He is now a spiritual being having a spiritual experience. We will miss him everyday.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Alfreda Drapeau Wright; Steve Wright, Norma Fast Horse, Louie Wright, Karen Silk, Susie Wright Crutcher, Frank (Butch) Wright, Patty Wright, Teddy Wright Myking, Anthony Wright and Conrad Wright.