Funeral Service for Rhianna Nixola Bedonie, 25, of Agency Village, SD will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD with Rev. Larry Theile and Elrond Johnson Red Blanket Man officiating. Pianist is Billy Kohl.  There will be wake services on Friday, October 4, 2019 and Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD. Pallbearers are Mike Robertson, Jaden Miller, Wayne Heminger Jr., Ernest Keeble Jr., Draven Crawford, Dylan Shepherd, Kieran Sweet, Justice White, and Robbie Johnson.  Honorary Pallbearers are Leilani Bernard, Raguel Wiggens, and all of Rhianna's family and friends.  Interment will be in the Ascension Presbyterian in Big Coulee, SD.  Rhianna passed away on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND.  The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Rhianna Nixola Bedonie was born on June 15, 1994 at Sioux Valley Hospital/Sanford, in Sioux Falls South Dakota to Larry and Patricia Michelle (White) Bedonie. Rhianna started her education at Jefferson Elementary in Huron SD.  She moved to the Sisseton Wahpeton area and continued her education at Westside Elementary for one year.  She spent the rest of her school years at Tiospa Zina Tribal School.  Rhianna overcame Dyslexia to achieve the top spot in the State for reading. She had a passion for the Environment; she gave speeches from memory, not written down, to her Teachers amazement.  She averaged A's and B's throughout her education.

Rhianna worked at Dakota Magic Casino and Hotel as a Housekeeper, Hotel Desk Clerk, Laundry Attendant, and the Gift Shop.  She worked for Woodland Cabinetry as a Sander and in the Spray Department.

Rhianna was acquainted with her future husband while in High School.  She valued her Dakotah Culture and consulted with her "Antie," on Relatives.  She had many long conversations with Christian Robertson before they started dating in March of 2018.  A nurse who cared for her at some time, remarked, her story is so cute about Christian being her crush in High School.  Rhianna and Christian entered into the Sacred Bond of Marriage on October 12, 2018.  Sadly, their first Beloved daughter made her journey to the Spirit World in June 2019.

Rhianna had many hobbies Reading being the top choice, the subjects being many.  She was an accomplished beadworker.  She enjoyed Cosplay, especially Japanese manga and anime.  She did the makeup and costumes for the children of the Tiwahe for Halloween.  She had a sword and knife collection and obtained knowledge of their construction and use.  Rhianna collected music of all genres.  She filled Sketch pads with her drawings.  She was creative in Painting and mixing mediums skillfully and amazingly, one medium being beadwork. Rhianna was an accomplished cook and baker. The Sisseton Wahpeton Veterans appreciated her culinary arts, as did her Tiwahe and friends.  It was said recently"you are looking at a very kind hearted and generous woman here.  She would feed you, and if there was nothing in the cupboards she will go out and get food to cook.  She once heard I was hungry, so she cooked and came over to get me."  Her generosity knew no bounds.

Rhianna learned especially from her big sister, LeFawn Crawford, how to cook, bake, Dakotah Traditional Values of feeding the Elders first at, "Dakotah Doing."  She learned respect and honor for people and joined her big sister in teaching the little ones,  both could get them to listen and fulfill their rolls,  in Dakotah ways,  i.e.: cleaning up, serving food, don't talk back, appreciate what is done for them, the list is endless.

She is a, "Beloved Little Sister," to Big Sister LeFawn, Freddie, Chris, Chuck and Andre.  She traveled the Wacipi Trail with them.  She was, "Tree Chopper," to the Wambdiwiwangwaci.  She traveled much of her young life to the meetings and Wambdiwiwangwaci.  She cared for her Mom, who had medical complications, Rhianna learned to run home dialysis.  Rhianna told stories to the children, stories about life and responsibilities at times when they needed to hear it.  She was always one to gather everyone she could for summer cookouts at Lake Elsie.  She would gather as many of the children as she could on her way to the lakes.  She was an excellent swimmer.  "To be a good relative," is a Dakotah Virtue.  Rhianna embraced it in her short life of 25 years.  Not only did she learn and live to be Dakotah, she also learned her Navajo Culture, Beliefs, Spirituality and Traditions of her Bedonie Family.  She was very close to her Grandfather Rex Bedonie, they had many conversations on life.  Rhianna was working on a book, however it will go unfinished.  She lived an extraordinary life in her short years, probably because she was an extraordinary person.  She will be greatly missed by her Tiwahe, her hunkah relatives, her friends.

Rhianna is survived by:  her husband Christian Robertson, parents Larry and Patricia Michelle (White) Bedonie, Brother Jaylyn Bedonie, Grandmother Etta Bedonie.

Rhianna was preceded in death by her daughter Renetta Ann Marie, paternal grandfather Rex Bedonie, maternal grandfather Robert White Sr., maternal grandmother Catherine Frenier, sister Tianna, Dakotah sister LeFawn.