Annette L. Heminger, 84, was born on January 19, 1940 in Sisseton, SD to Albert Jones Jr. and Violet R. Heminger.

She was the granddaughter of TaOyateDuta “Chief Little Crow”.

Annette attended Big Coulee Day school, Wahpeton Indian School and graduated from the  Flandreau Indian School in 1958.

She always told her children that attending FIS were the best years of her life. She also attended school of nursing but moved before she could finish.

Annette was fond of her time working at Greenacres Nursing Home in South Sioux City, NE, Town Hall Estates in Sayer, Oklahoma and for the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribal Police Department. After several years living and working in Texas and Oklahoma she returned back to Flandreau in 1979. She began her career at Flandreau Indian School in the Solo Parent Program taking care of children so young mothers could attend school. After Solo closed in 1995, she then moved over to the residential program in the girl’s dorm as a dorm parent. Unfortunately, due to a genetic eye disease, she had to retire in December 2008 after 28 years of service. Even in her 80s she often said she would still be working if not for her eyesight.

Annette enjoyed socializing, dancing, gardening, cooking, baking, beading, shawl making, babysitting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and listening to country western music on her faithful Bose stereo.  She was a loyal George Jones fan. She had her morning routine of calling family and friends to check in on them. Her maternal spirit made everyone feel welcomed and loved by her, whether they were a stranger or relative.

Survived by siblings: Michael Greeley (Wilmot, SD), Carrietta Greeley (Sisseton, SD), Clarence Greeley Jr. (Hammon, OK), Connie Crocker-Miller (Peever, SD) and her love Joel Kotan (Flandreau, SD);  children:  son: Louis (Christine) Payer, Sr.(Flandreau, SD), son: Willis Todd Whiteskunk (Flandreau, SD),  a daughter: Shawn Dahmen (Brookings, SD) and a son: Shane Whiteskunk (Flandreau, SD);  grandchildren: Louis Payer Jr., Mercedes Payer-Red Bear, Rick Blue, Kevin Dudley, Marissa, Tala, Elijah, and Jasmine Whiteskunk, Destiny (Gordon) Bird and Dylan Dahmen; great-grandchildren: Wambdi and Tasunka Starlin, LaVaura and Louis Payer III, Rianna, Saige, Sacred, and Heaven Red Bear, Dakota and Annette Yellow Cloud, Melanie, Saphfire and Rick Jr. Blue, Crystal, Olivia, Abigail & Ophelia Dudley, Lincoln Rusk, Jelina Bird and a grandson due in June;  Taken as her sons: Jesse (Terri) Larsen & Kyle Kempeska; Taken as a daughter: Kaye Renville all of Sisseton, SD.

Preceded in death by her parents Albert Jones Jr. and Violet Heminger, son Jeffrey Payer, daughter Dierdra Payer, maternal grandparents Albert and Ruth Heminger, brother Robert Greeley, sister Francine Greeley-Hill, great-grandsons Bradley Louis Red Bear and Royal David blue and “Grandpa George”.

A wake will be held on Tuesday, May 28th beginning at 6:00 P.M. at The Eastman Hall in Flandreau, South Dakota.

Funeral Services for Annette Heminger will be held on Wednesday, May 29th at 11:00 A.M. at The Eastman Hall in Flandreau, South Dakota.   Gerald Heminger Jr. and J.C. Crawford will officiate.  Billy Kohl will be the pianist.

Interment First Presbyterian Cemetery in Flandreau, South Dakota.

Honorary Pallbearers: Faith Erickson, LaVonne “Bunny” Allen, Leona Kitto, Mary Lou McGhee, Glenda Hansen, Nancy Dahmen and the late Kim DeCoteau and all her nieces, nephews, family and friends

Pallbearers: Louis Payer II, Jay Larose, Kenny Walker, Dylan Dahmen, Elijah Whiteskunk, Chris Greeley, Joel Herman, Daniel LaBate, Kenny Weston, and Harlan Bellonger.

The Chilson Funeral Home in Winsted, Minnesota served the family.   Online condolences may be made to www.chilsonfuneralhome.com