Funeral Service will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD. All night Wake Services will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 P.M. at the SWO Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD.  Christopher passed away at his home on February 11, 2025.

In Remembrance of Chris…..
Christopher Wayne Johnson, "Wakaŋhdi Ptecana," was born March 15, 1991 to Louie and Sherry Johnson in Sisseton, SD. His family knew him always as "Little Man" and still to this day you can hear his Dad say well, "Little Man said..". He just looked like a Little Man and he was always so independent.  Chris graduated 8th grade at the Enemy Swim Day School and then decided he was going to Sisseton High School.  He completed all the paperwork and when on to graduate in 2009. Truly independent he completed all his college and scholarship applications next. While in College, Chris spent several years in Norway where he attended the American College of Norway in 2010 and the University of Oslo in 2012. Chris earned a Bachelor's of Science from the University of North Dakota in International Studies and his Master's Degree in Education at the University of South Dakota in December of 2015.

Chris loved to travel and took many trips and vacations all over the world.  Having the common name of Chris Johnson, he was on the terrorist watch list and frequently went through extra searches at security!  Some of the places Chris traveled to include Norway, United Kingdom, and Mexico. Chris also learned several languages, including Norwegian and Spanish (which helped that one time in Mexico where he was confronted by the Mexican military!).  He loved to travel and live a little.  His trips took him all over Europe and to lounge on many beautiful beaches!!  He recently went to Vegas to a concert in the Sphere.  He experienced more life than we all knew.

Chris was known for his intelligence and dedication to his work.  His Grandpa PeeWee and Granny Olivia always called him the Professor. He worked hard in the health field to benefit tribal people.  Most recently he worked for the Minnesota Department of Health and would bartend for Buffalo Lake Lanes to keep busy. His previous work included the American Indian Cancer Foundation and Sisseton-Wahpeton Housing Authority, in which, he worked hard on grants and mostly health programming.  He loved his work and the many friends that he met throughout his journey.  He was fun to be around and had that sardonic sense of humor.  At home, he liked to hang out with those he loved and tolerated (haha).  His daily texts with Sara Lincoln and Elise Johnson will be greatly missed.

Chris so loved his nieces and nephews and told them he was their "Uncle Joe."  So as, Uncle Joe, he terrorized his nieces Laila and Ezra and nephew Asa to their delight. Chris gave them all nicknames like Mahpiya Yutatawin to Vernny, which he still called her.  Chris had a special bond with his sisters Autumn and Getters. We absolutely know, he is with Autumn right now laughing and making fun of everybody.

Chris is survived by his parents Sherry and Louie Johnson, sisters Alexis "Getters" Johnson and Miranda (Justin) White, Ashley Johnson, brothers Nick (Erica) Johnson and Luke Johnson, grandparents Lois and Bruce Formes, his aunties Cookie, Angi, Annie, Tammy, Dini, uncle Dicky Johnson and Family and many, many cousins.

Chris was preceded in death by his Cissy Autumn Johnson, Grandpa "PeeWee" Eastman and Granny Olivia Eastman, Grandma and Grandpa Chris and Shirley Johnson, Great-Grandmother Dagmar Keehn, Grandma Alberta Crawford, Grandma Rena Decoteau, Grandma Barbara King, Uncle Alan and Auntie Bonnie Johnson, Uncle Felix, Uncle Norman, Uncle Maurice "John" Johnson, Uncle Floyd DeCoteau, Kunsi Toni Sheldon, Aunt Evon Amy Eastman, Uncle Wayne Eastman, nieces Lucy Kohl and Scottlyn Canku.

Our family wants to thank everyone for being a part of his life and a part of ours, for your support, prayers and being here for us in this difficult time.  Nina Wopida Tanka iciciye.