Funeral Service for Gerald E. "Jerry" Flute, CHO-TANKA-ENAPE, 80, of Lake Traverse, SD will be held on Friday, February 21, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD with Joe CircleBear Spiritual Leader officiating.  Pallbearers will be Tyson Flute, Thomas Flute Jr., Tanner Flute, Abrey Flute, Sage Flute, Dominic White, DJ White, Hayden Flute, Zachary Flute, and John Jordan. Honorary Pallbearers will be All of Jerry's nephews and grandchildren, All past Tribal Executives and Council, the Russell Hawkins family, the Michael Selvage Sr. family, the Robert Shepherd family, the Andy Grey family, Clayton Adams, Kent Good, Joe Williams, Bert Hirsch, Brad Keeler, Jack Trope, the Buffalo Lake Sundance Families, the Sherilyn Marks Family, the Steve Brady Families, Glen Hull, and Francis Crawford. Drum Group will be all Sisseton Wahpeton Tribal Singers, and Military Rites will be provided by the Desert Era Veterans. Interment will be at the Flute Family Cemetery, Lake Traverse, SD. Wake Services will be held at the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribal Community Center at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 20, 2020.  The Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Gerald Eugene Supangi, aka, Jerry Flute was born on April 17 ^th , 1939 in Sisseton, South Dakota to Mni Sa "Joseph" Supangi and Caroline Flute. Jerry attended school in Sisseton before joining the Airforce. In the Airforce, Jerry served with the 8 ^th Airforce Bomber Squadron and was proud to be a Cold War Veteran. Upon his Honorable Discharge, Jerry entered into the relocation program, married and settled in California with Roberta LaBatte where they had a son, Tom Flute. While in California, Jerry acquired the trade of auto-body and paint and was one of the top auto-body tradesman of the area. After several years Jerry moved back to Lake Traverse where he met Wendy Scheffer and they were united in marriage on April 14 ^th , 1969; together they had David, Debra and Josh and raised all four kids in Lake Traverse.

In Jerry's early years and at the request of tribal elders, Jerry became involved in tribal government. His first elected position for the tribe was Tribal Secretary and he served two terms. Upon serving successfully as Tribal Secretary, Jerry ran for the office of Tribal Chairman and was elected to three successful terms; he chose not to seek a fourth term as Chairman. In the early 90's Jerry was appointed by tribal council to serve in an interim capacity as Tribal Chairman until the position was filled. In the early 2000's Jerry was asked to run for the open Chairman position and successfully won the special election and served once again as Tribal Chairman. He then ran for tribal council and served one term as councilman for the Lake Traverse District. Throughout Jerry's political career and with the support of the tribal council, they created a monumental shift that is still the general foundation of the tribe today. To name a few of their accomplishments: Moved the tribal administration from Sisseton and created Agency Village. They built the first tribal admin building followed by a new building for BIA and other tribal programs, established the Voc-Ed which eventually became the Community College, built the first tribal housing, tribal gym, tribal jail, tribal farm, and secured funding from D.C. to compensate tribal council duties. Another pivotal shift was the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act. There are many other accomplishments that are credited to Jerry's administration. Jerry simultaneously served as Chairman for the United Tribes of North Dakota and Chairman for the United Sioux Tribes. Jerry was also a Delegate for the 1977 Democratic Convention.

During Jerry's break in service to the tribe, Jerry was hired by the Association on American Indian Affairs where he served as a field director for the region and eventually became the Director for AAIA. Jerry worked hard for the grass roots/traditional people of many different tribes across the nation. A few of the major accomplishments that are largely credited to Jerry and the AAIA Board of Directors: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Protecting Sacred Sites most notably the Medicine Wheel, protecting the Native rights for use of eagle feathers and parts, and language preservation. Jerry testified numerous times before congress and different sub-committees on many issues that were important to traditional people across the nation.

Jerry's quest for spirituality began in the late 1960's when he was encouraged to meet Frank Fools Crow from Kyle, South Dakota. Becoming acquainted with Fools Crow and other spiritual leaders led Jerry to build the first sweat lodge at the Elijah Black Thunder residence in 1969. After Jerry built his home in Lake Traverse, he and others involved with cultural revitalization, moved the lodge to his home. Through harsh criticisms, Jerry continued to learn and believe in the ancient ways and welcomed many others that came to his residence to sweat and learn our ancient ways as Dakota. Through Fools Crow, Jerry was also introduced to and became close friends with Felix Green, a spiritual leader from Green Grass, South Dakota. Felix had a very positive presence on this reservation and began holding ceremonies at Jerry's residence. As more and more Dakota people began coming to his residence to take part in sweat and ceremony, there was a rebirth of our ancient ways. By the early 1970's, the people brought back the Sundance and the sacred ways flourished once again and are alive and growing today.

Jerry's political and cultural contributions shaped the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe to being one of the most respected, spiritual and economical tribe of its time, and in which many of those foundations remain today.

Jerry is survived by his wife Wendy; sons; Thomas Flute Sr., David Flute, and Joshua Flute, a daughter, Debra Flute, two sisters, Carol Jordan, and Joann Spider, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Caroline BigTalk, Mnisa (Joseph) Supangi, a sister and brother in law, Philip and Alberta Jackson, and two brothers in law, Jack Jordan, and Albert Spider.

For Jerry's obituary and on-line registry please visit www.cahillfuneralchapel.com