Payton Maria Canku, age 30, of Sioux Falls, died on Friday, February 3rd, 2023. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 at the Wicaicaga Otipi Community Center in Flandreau. An all-night wake service will be held the evening prior, Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM at Wicaicaga Otipi Community Center. 

Payton Maria Canku entered into our lives on May 2^nd, 1992 in Pipestone, MN to Bill and Rhea Canku. She was named after The Great Walter Payton a running back for the Chicago Bears. If you have crossed her path, she would have left you with a lasting memory like her name’s sake. Payton was amazing in so many ways and her zest for laughter and life and seizing the day… would become an inspiration to many.

Payton had goals and dreams in her life that she was determined to accomplish.  Payton attended high school at the Flandreau Public School and graduated in 2010.   Payton chose to continue her education at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies in 2016. With a shove from her uncle Morris, she would have graduated in May with her master’s in creative writing from IAIA this May. She made many friends and so many memories along the way. She was her own person, independent, courageous, big hearted and daring.

Payton had the love for golf like her dad and big brother Billy. In high school, she went to state two years and it was great pass time for her and her dad. She was selected outstanding female athlete for golf two years in the row. She played volley ball, was in the marching band and chorus. Payton had the spunk to try new things and was resilient and determined to excel in whatever she did.   

‘’Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.’’ -Walt Disney

   Payton loved everything Disney, she would travel twice a year to Florida to visit Disney World. She would plan her trip and hop on a plane and go… fearless as ever living her best life.  Just in January she traveled to Disneyland in California to visit friends there. She visited her man Van Diesel and her idol Marilynn Monroe at Madame Tussauds wax museum. She believed that Marilynn was a genuine natural beauty and Payton and her had the height in common was a bonus. 

Payton’s life was not always peaches and cream. In 2020 Payton was diagnosis with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension and was told that she would need a heart and lung transplant and a heart pump in the meantime.  In 2022, Payton had a stroke and later was diagnosed with Lupus. She always had a smile and laughter for everyone. No matter what doctors threw at her and how hurt and tired she was, Payton lived each day to the fullest and did as she pleased. Her family had wished she would slow down and rest, she decided she wanted to work and live. She wanted to make it big by herself in this world.    

Family in friends were everything to her and she had so much love for all of them. She spent the time making friends everywhere she went. If you crossed her path, you would have a story to tell.  Payton always left some of her with everyone whether it was laughter or her compassion she had enough for everyone. Our beloved Payton was a devoted aunt to all her nieces and nephews and grandchildren; she loved them all whole heartedly. Payton and Katlyn were the best of friends as she had may others also. Payton and Katlyn had a bond like no other. Payton was setting the standard for her family especially with her education. 

She passed away suddenly on Feb 3^rd, 2023. Payton was greeted by Maternal Grandfather Donald McGhee, Paternal Grandfather Eugene Smith, Paternal Grandmother Sallie Canku, Aunt Martha Canku-Flores, Aunt Nona and Uncle Perry Bobtail Bear, Cousin Morley Kirk and her Very Special niece Scottlyn Sallie Canku.   

Payton is survived by her mother and father Bill and Rhea Canku (Flandreau); Grandmother Marylou McGhee of Flandreau,SD; Siblings: Shawn LaBatte (Sisseton), Miranda (Justin) White (Eden), Aaron (Shelby Ehlebracht) Moshier, Watertown, Billy (Chelsey) Canku JR. Sisseton; Uncles: Morris Canku Sisseton SD, Dean McGhee (Lower Brule), Eugene VanZile, Keith VanZile, Daniel Smith, James (JC) Crawford SR, Allen Labelle, Jeff Keeble Sr.;Aunts: Densise Labine, Dawn McGhee, Winona McGhee, Jenelle Burshiem, Jennie Burshiem, Carol Burshiem, Nettie Kirk.