Theresa Pleets

Mass of Christian burial for Theresa Pleets "Akicita Waste Win", 90, of Ft. Yates will be at 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ft. Yates, ND. Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. A rosary will begin at 6:30 pm, Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the church. A procession will be leaving Kesling Funeral Home at 4:00 pm on Tuesday. Theresa passed away on Friday November 28, 2025, at St. Vincent's Good Samaritan in Bismarck, ND.

Theresa was born on February 3, 1935, in Fort Yates to James and Mary Yellow Fat and raised in Old Kenel (SD).

She was educated in Fort Yates at the old Standing Rock High School, graduating in 1952. She attended the Haskell Indian College in Lawrence Kansas, earning her degree in accounting. She started working at the Aberdeen Area Office in Aberdeen SD. She then went on to work for the Standing Sioux Tribe Finance Department as the Assistant Finance Officer. She worked for the SRST for over 50+ years before retiring at the age of 75. She was the Matriarch of the Yellow Fat family, the last survivor of the James and Mary Yellow Fat children.

She is survived by her daughters Debra Dudley and Sandra LeCompte. Nephews and Nieces Terry (Gayleen) Yellow Fat, Annette Yellow Fat, Irma (Todd) Walking Elk, Glenna LeBeau-Yellow Fat, Cordell (Judi) Yellow Fat, Kathy Buffalo Boy; Dale Watts; Kathy Bailey, Sidney Bailey Jr., Bernadette Dauenhauer, Marilee Bailey Lawrence, Charles Bailey, Lisa Isselhardt. Sister Verna Bailey.
Also survived by her grandchildren: Jessica Montclair, Daniel Montclair, Amy Montclair, and Memoree LeCompte; Dana Yellow Fat, Courtney Yellow Fat, Dawn Wasin Zi, Fawn Wasin Zi; Justin W. Yellow Fat, Jesse Bears Heart, Jeremy Bears Heart, Mitchell Bears Heart, Kimberly Bears Heart; Starla Yellow Fat, James Yellow Fat, Samantha Prentice, Jonathan Yellow Fat; Christina Walking Elk; Bobbi Rey Yellow Fat, Franklin Yellow Fat, Kaitlin Yellow Fat; Stacy Eagle, Desiree Morsette; Nichole Winans, Robert Buffalo Boy, Julian Buffalo Boy, Spencer Buffalo Boy;
Great Grandchildren: Derek Gates, Emma Black Hoop, Ayden Traversie, Joseph Liam; Trentin Long, Shanna Jo Long; Daniel Montclair Jr, Mathew Montclair, Benjamin Montclair; Helixo Eagle, Wowicala Buckley, Lowan Buckley, Mya Elk; Joe Yellow Fat, Dawson Yellow Fat; Cody James Wasin Zi, Misun Wasin Zi, Isabella LeBeau; Quinton LeBeau; Richard, Xavier, Maddox, BJ Claymore; Jaden Wells, Keida Prentice, Koda Prentice; Matthius Yellow Fat, Thor Yellow Fat, Laila Yellow Fat; Sansa Yellow Fat, Arya Yellow Fat; Jacob Fox, Justin Fox, Julius Fox; Damon Morsette; Justin Yellow Fat Jr., Jace Yellow Fat; Jesstin Bears Heart, Jami Jewels Bears Heart, Jaxon Bears Heart, Laryn Bears Heart; Jendaya Yellow Fat, Precious Yellow Fat; Landon Martinez and Quinn Martinez; Reyonna Yellow Earrings, Reymin Yellow Earrings, Raegin Yellow Earrings, Rains Yellow Earrings, ReyShal Yellow Earrings; Dajuan Yellow Fat, Keyla Yellow Fat and Kyonna Yellow Fat and numerous other
grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents James and Mary Yellow Fat; sons James Dudley and Joseph Dudley; brothers Raymond Yellow Fat, Robert Yellow Fat, and Martin Yellow Fat; uncle Martin Yellow Fat; sister Alice Watts; grandchildren Justus James D.E.; Cordell (CJ) Yellow Fat Jr., Joe Paul Yellow Fat; Allison Martin; husband John Pleets; sisters-in-law Jerdine McDowell and Patricia Isselhardt; nephew Robert Watts, nieces Rosemary Watts, Marcia Brave Thunder; Hunka sister Rita Murphy; A very special niece Darlene Morsette and a very special nephew Rodney (RJ) Yellow Fat.

Honorary Bearers:
Verna and Sidney Bailey & family, Terry and Gayleen Yellow Fat & Family, Annette Yellow Fat & family, Irma Walking Elk, Cordell and Judi Yellow Fat & family, Glenna LeBeau-Yellow Fat & family, Kathy Buffalo Boy, Nichole Winans, Patty Kelly, Charles and Dean Murphy, Mike Faith, Susan Agard & the Agard family, Stanford Edwards, Elton Grey Bull, Sharon Starr, Edie Rhoades, Dawnette Azure, Robert Bullhead, Holly Bailey, Lila Long Feather, Gale Brave Crow, Claudette Walking Elk, Leaf Giroux, Long time neighbor and friend Joe Harrison, Glenna Eagle & family, Roy Montclair Jr., Laura Augustine, Terrell Elk and family, Victoria Birds Head, Victoria Buffalo, Kimimila Locke, Connie Putnam Marshall, the SRST
Finance Department, Sanford Medical, and St. Vincent's Good Samaritan Nursing Home.

Casket Bearers:
Terry Yellow Fat, Derek Gates, Trentin Long, Helixo Eagle, Ayden Traversie, Daniel Montclair, Dana Yellow Fat, Courtney Yellow Fat, James Yellow Fat, Jonathan Yellow Fat, Dawson Yellow Fat, Cody Wasin Zi, Misun Wasin Zi

Drum group: Lakota Thunder