Funeral Service for Alberta "Beba" Janet Bigtalk Jackson, 60 of Sisseton, SD will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. at Sisseton Wahpeton Community Center, Agency Village, SD with John Cloud III, Senior Catechist and Danny Seaboy officiating. Pallbearers will be Dave Flute, Tom Flute, Josh Flute, Randy Jordan, John Jordan, and Albert Spider Jr. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Alberta's Family & Friends. Special Music will be provided by the Ridge Runners Drum Group. Interment will be in the Jackson's Family Cemetery, rural Peever, SD. There will be an all night wake on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Community Center, Agency Village, SD. Alberta Bigtalk was born on April 26, 1949, the daughter of Thomas and Caroline (Flute) Bigtalk. Alberta attended Sisseton Public School to the eighth grade. She then went two years at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal School at Wakpala, South Dakota during her freshman and sophomore year. She graduated from Sisseton High School. She furthered her education and attended one year in Denver, Colorado taking Art Classes. Alberta met her husband Philip Jackson on the Pow Wow circuit. Alberta was a traditional dancer and Philip also known by his friends as Buzzy had a drum group. They married in 1977. Together they had two children, Joseph and Tonya. Alberta started her career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in Ft. Totten, ND. From there she went to work in the Aberdeen Regional Office and finally settled down at the local Sisseton BIA Agency. Because of poor health, Alberta retired from the Bureau in 1991 on disability. Alberta enjoyed Pow Wows and playing Slots. She and her husband Buzzy attended many Pow Wows during their life together. Buzzy passed away in 2000. Alberta's hobbies were beading and sketch drawing to pass the time. She also liked to play Yahtzee with her friends. She enjoyed going to bingo and playing the slot machines at the local casino. Her most joy was having her grandchildren around her. They would make her laugh to tears when they started to act "goofy". They will surely miss her.
Alberta is survived by two children, Joseph Jackson and Tonya Jackson of Sisseton, SD; four grandchildren, Philip, Anthony, Alvan, Amelia Jackson, of all Sisseton, SD; one brother, Jerry and wife, Wendy Flute, and their children, Tom, David, Debra, Josh, all of rural Browns Valley, MN; a sister, Joanne Spider and children Albert Jr., Roxanne, Betty, David, all of rural Wilmot, SD; a sister, Carol Jordan and children, Randy, and John of rural Peever, SD, an Aunt Vivian Flute of Peever, SD and many other relatives and friends. Alberta entered the Spirit World on Monday, November 23, 2009 at her home.
Alberta was preceded in death by her husband, Philip, her parents Thomas and Caroline and one grandchild Abrielle Jackson.