Pearl M. Wakeman, 86, of Flandreau, died Friday, July 23, 2010 at Riverview Manor.

Pearl was born on March 6, 1924 to Harry C. and Bessie (Eastman) Jones at Mankato, MN. She also lived with her aunt, Grace Moore and husband, Oliver for a few years as a child. On June 25, 1947, she was united in marriage to Thomas J. Wakeman at Pipestone, MN. In the latter 1940s, she attended Cook Institute at Tempe, AZ. She entered government service working first in Ft. Thompson then in Ft. Totten and Wahpeton, ND. Her husband preceded her in death on June 2, 1955. In the summer of 1957, she moved back to Flandreau. In August, 1958, she accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and attended Brainerd Indian School at Hot Spring where she finished her high school studies, also taking on some Bible College studies and graduating in May 1959.

In early 1961, she served under the Wesleyan Methodist Indian Mission in Ft. Thompson and Lower Brule, as well as a missionary helper at Pine Ridge. In the spring of 1969, she moved to Sioux Falls to oversee the Minnehaha Indian Center and serve as the coordinator there and was awarded a humanitarian award by the City of Sioux Falls. In the 1970s, she worked in Flandreau as CHR Coordinator and Senior Dining Program Director and on weekends did missionary work in Fort Thompson until the late 1990s officially "retired", but was fully ordained as a pastor in 2001. After her retirement, she would fill in at the 1st Presbyterian Church, back at the Ft. Thompson Church, and then hospital ministry, visiting the sick in the hospitals.

She became a resident at Riverview Manor on April 29, 2004, where she continued her ministry despite her failing health. Pearl was a member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and a third generation ordained minister, following in her father’s path. She played guitar, loved to sing and always had a little dog for a companion. A role model in her community, Pearl is remembered as an excellent cook, a hard worker and a woman living her faith.

She is survived by her son: Thomas J. "Jerry" (Rebecca) of Winner; five grandchildren: Anthony, Maria, Rebekah, Christopher and Catherine; five great grandchildren; one brother: John (JoAnn) Jones, Sioux Falls and two sisters-in-law: Judy Jones and Leona Kitto both of Flandreau. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy, her parents, brothers, Harry, Richard, Walter and Gordon, her sister, Elaine Anderson, a grandchild and a great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church, Flandreau.

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