KATHERINE WINCKLER

Katherine ( Kathy) Eve Winckler, 63, of Lake Andes, passed away at home in Lake Andes on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Funeral services were Saturday, October 1 at the Cedar Presbyterian Church, rural Lake Andes with burial in the Cedar Presbyterian Cemetery. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

Katherine Winckler, was born to Robert and Lucille (Flying Hawk) Winckler on August 21, 1959 in Pierre. Her parents proudly named her after both grandmothers Katherine Winckler and Eva Thunder Horse.

Katherine attended elementary school in Pierre until 1971. At that time the family moved to Lake Andes. She then attended Andes Central and Marty Indian School where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1977. As for college, Kathy attended the University of South Dakota early but graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1988. One of the highlights of her DWU years was a trip with fellow students to Japan, which was an experience Kathy reflected fondly.

Kathy worked for the tribe on and off in her early years. In more recent times she worked and man-aged the YST Travel Plaza and currently Kathy created and managed the YST Tax Revenue program. This position was a labor of love and the one she worked at until the day she died. The tax program helped many people, especially young tribal members in their scholastic and extra-curricular activities. YST Kids will remember a time or an item they were helped with out of Tax Program. Kathy believed strongly in buying any available land back for the tribe. That is her legacy.

Kathy attended many concerts, from seeing The Eagles in the mid-70s to her last concert, Elton John in March 2022. In her early years, she attended these concerts with her family and for adventure seekers up for the same experience. In her later years she took her grandchildren to their first concert because she wanted to pass on the joy of the experience to them.

Kathy loved games such as backgammon, scrabble, and puzzles. Her shopping trips were notorious for ending in full carts and something for everyone. She was extremely well read from novels to technical materials to news.

Katherine shared her life with her lifelong partner, Kurt Archambeau. Her children are Julian Lee Winckler and Rachel Christine Simone Archambeau. Her greatest pride and love were her three grandchildren: the twins Lucas and Mira Archambeau and her namesake Kaydence Eve Archambeau.

She is also survived by her brothers: Mark (Georgia Holiday) and Keith (Cindy Schunk) and her sisters: Mona Taylor (Alton) and Myra (Jasim Al-Janabi).

Kathy is also survived by her nephews and nieces. They include from her brother Francis: Vicky, Kim, and Tyrone; brother Raymond: Monty, Randy, Frankie, Shawn, Shannon, Lonnie, and Cheyenne; brother Ron: Justus and Aram; brother Mark’s children: Morrisa and Jasper; and brother Keith’s children: Alicia, Robert, Hazen, and Lucy. She loved all of these children dearly.

Kathy had a lifelong friendship with Gail Been, who she knew since they were both young mothers living in Lake Andes.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Lucille; her brothers: Francis Night Pipe, Raymond Winckler, Ron Winckler; and her niece Alexa Winckler.

As we remember and cherish her wisdom, grace, and love, we are sure she is pain free and walking with those who went before her. She will be missed.