Graveside Service will be held on Friday, May 19, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at St. John's Episcopal Cemetery, Browns Valley, SD

Funeral Service for Sylvanus Justin Flute III, WaHoya Ċotanka, Sends for the People, 28, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center, Agency Village with Fr. Charles Chan and the Episcopal Lay Readers officiating. Pall Bearers will be Tristan Flute, Scottland LaFromboise, Anthony Flute, Sidney Williams, Abel Flute, St. John Flute, Gunner Owen and Cullen Max.  Honorary Pall Bearers will be Seth Flute, Ashton Flute, Nicolette "Kitty" Max, Starr Quinn, Tyrone Bearhead, Carlton Crawford, Dennis Hopkins Jr., Alton & Yvonne Nies. Burial will be in St. John's Episcopal Cemetery, Browns Valley, South Dakota at a later date.  There will be a Wake Service on Thursday, January 19. 2023 starting at 7:00 P.M. and an All Night Wake on Friday, January 20, 2023 starting at 7:00 P.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD.  Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Sye was born to Sylvanus "Sly" Flute Jr. and Marjory (Owen) Bissonette in Watertown South Dakota, on April 5, 1994 at 12:55 A.M., flying in a Chevy Camaro to make it there and not in the car. As with all my Boys, a song by John Lennon "Beautiful boy" is just in a whisper and just for him was sung in his ear. His mother was so glad to meet Sye as he would be the First Grandson for his Grandpa Dennis Owen, but many more to come.

Sye was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church of Browns Valley; he was also a member of Brotherhood of St. Andrews. Sye was baptized at St. John's Church with Reverend Ronald Campbell presiding.

He was also member of a gaming clan with his brothers and friends. His favorite game of all time was "The Legend of Zelda" and not to be confused with Zelma his Kunsi.

Sye was part of a big family; he was Sye to all of us. Behind the scenes at home or at birthday parties he was also "Cookie Monster" and has cookies genes running through his veins and his younger brothers Tristan, Memphis and Maverick have this. Sye was also a "Rugrat" Sye was Phil, Bree - Lil, Anthony - Chucky, Scottland -Tommy, and Shantalica was Angelica and lastly, "Psyduck" for his love of Pokémon.

During the summer months after a long school year, he would go to Episcopal camp at Thunderhead Episcopal Center in the Beautiful Black Hills with family. Afterwards Sye and the rest of the family would go on the Powwow trail, from Minnesota to North and South Dakota. Sye was a Traditional style dancer and would dance with Anthony and Scottland. He would also dance with his sisters and other cousins. Sye was an Amigo, from the "Three Amigos" this was an exclusive club, and it was only for them Sye, Anthony and Scooter, pictures were usually of them living life only as they understood. On the twentieth anniversary of Star Wars and the whole Trilogy, we both would head to Watertown old Cinema and get a large soda and popcorn and have greasy faces.

Sye attended Enemy Swim Day School graduated May 2008 and graduated from Tiospa Zina on May 19, 2012. He had one credit to finish his schooling and received a diploma on May 17, 2013. It was moving to see him finish this and walk across the stage, later he would work at Dakota Magic, but his favorite in recent years was Bagel Boy in East Sioux Falls, every time we would visit he smelled so good, like a very big bagel. Currently he was attending Bryant and Stratton College.

Sye had some tough times as we all do.  He was homeless towards the end of his beautiful life, in Sioux Falls, SD. He would wander and stay with family. He would always call and tell everyone he was alright and always said "I love you".

We all Love you Sye and live in our hearts and souls.

You will always be our "Beautiful Boy"

Sye passed away on January 13, 2023 at Coteau Des Prairies Hospital, Sisseton, SD.

Sye is Survived by his parents Sylvanus and Jaime Flute and Marjory and Ed Bissonette; Brothers: Sidney Williams, Tristan Flute, Memphis Flute, and Maverick Flute; Sisters, Sabrina Flute, Shirley Bird, Melissa Bird; Paternal Grandmother "Kunsi" – Zelma Flute and Lily Runnels; Maternal Grandparents, Milton "Nippy" and Barbara Owen, Garry and Inez Owen, Verlyn "Pete" Owen, John Jr. and Dani TwoStars; Paternal Uncles Saville Flute, Sylvan Flute, Stacy Flute and Seth Flute; Maternal Uncles,  William "Bill" and Jackie Owen, Dennis "Boog" and Candida Owen; Paternal Aunts, Sylvana (Sam Jr.) Crawford ; Maternal Aunts,  Michelle and Steve Farmer, Jennifer Owen, April Owen; Cousins, Shantal Flute LaFromboise, Scottland LaFromboise, St. John Flute, Adriel Kirk, Aurora Flute, Anthony Flute, Abel Flute, Ashton Flute, Alexander Flute, Steven Flute, Samantha Flute, Serena Flute, Kasey Flute, Gunner Owen, Tanner Owen, Piper Owen, Alyssa Owen, Sasha Owen, Lori Owen, Tia Owen, Ashley Blacksmith, April Keeble, Tessa Bissonette, Keenan Bissonette, Miranda Rodlund, Amber Rodlund, Natasha Rodlund, and Loni Rodlund, 5 nephews and 6 nieces, and Special Friend Donna German.

Sye was preceded in death by his paternal grandfathers  Sylvanus "Sye" Flute  Sr. and his maternal grandfather, Dennis Sr. and maternal grandmother, Shirley Owen; Allan Owen;  Nettie Mousseaux, Corrine Owen, Patricia Bernard, Y Nancy TwoStars, Florine Maynard Bernard, Chuck and Kitty Owen, Niece Louise Decorah, and Cousin Leanne Rodlund.