Adrian Michael Thomas

Adrian M. Thomas, Sr., “Sunkawakan Ska Wicasta” (His Horse Is White), 72 of Spirit Lake Nation, began his journey to the Spirit World on Friday, May 9, 2025 at his home in Crow Hill, ND.

Adrian Michael Thomas, Sr. was born on June 9, 1952 in Fort Totten, ND to Winifred (Buck Elk) and Richard (Boke) Thomas, Sr. The family lived in Montana for a short time then returned to the Spirit Lake Nation. They made their home in Crow Hill. Adrian was educated in Brockton, Montana; Stephan, South Dakota; and Maddock, North Dakota. During the summer months he would travel to Fort Kipp, Montana to help his Uncle Harvey and family with farm work.

In 1972, Adrian attended the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, ND. He later attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND and Northland Community & Technical College in East Grand Forks, MN. While attending the United Tribes Technical College, Adrian met the love of his life, Charlene A. Eagle Thunder. On June 5, 1973, Adrian was united in marriage to Charlene (Eagle Thunder) Thomas. They resided in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and a short time in California. They eventually made their home in Crow Hill, ND. They have 6 children, 14 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Adrian worked in the construction and manufacturing industries, auto mechanic, and welding profession to provide for his family. He loved horseback riding and rodeos. In his younger years, he owned horses and was well-known for breaking-in and taming horses, which he did for many family and friends. He participated in the local parades riding horse with his daughter’s Vanessa and Adrienne, along with many other friends and relatives. He was also part of the rodeo circuit and participated in the bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding events.

He enjoyed spending time and vacationing with family, attending pow-wows, visiting friends, teasing, storytelling, making star quilt designs for his wife Charlene and sister Marilyn (Bubbs), working on his own and family vehicles, painting and fixing up classic cars with his cousin Gary Gourd, yard work, attending rodeos, horse racing, and bull riding events. He liked listening to Billy Graham sermons, old country music and pow-wow songs, and watching western/action movies, rodeos, bull riding, horse racing, documentaries, and church sermons on television every Sunday morning.

Adrian and his wife Charlene also served as foster parents in their younger years and raised many of their grandchildren as their own. Adrian will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew him. He had a huge heart, loved his family and was well-respected within his community.

Adrian is survived by his loving family. His son, Adrian Thomas, Jr.; daughters, Candida Davis, Vanessa (Royce) Thomas, Adrienne Thomas, Winifred (Mitchell) Thomas-Buckles and Charmayne Thomas; grandsons, Waylon Stands Jr., Adriano Martin, Adrian Thomas III, Nicolas Buckles, Noah Buckles, Sheldon Jones Jr., and Aiden Thomas; granddaughters, Marissa (Jay) Thomas, Shaylynn Martin, LaShae (Dakota) Martin, Robyn Martin, Abigail Thomas, Thomasina McKay, and Teagan McKay; great-grandsons, Waylon Stands III, Sebastian Stands, Drayton Stands, Elijah Desjarlais, Ezra Desjarlais, David Good Bird; great-granddaughters, Thaydyn Stands and Mileena Martin; sisters, Wanda Thomas and Cynthia Thomas; brother-in-law, Dennis Keo, and adopted brothers Andy DeMarce Jr., Quentin Yankton, Alfred ‘Lemon’ Longie, and James Yankton; goddaughter, Tara Yankton; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Adrian joins in the Spirit World his beloved wife, Charlene A. Thomas; parents, Richard (Boke) and Winifred Thomas; brothers, Duane Thomas, Mike Thomas, Richard Thomas Jr., Tim Thomas, Casey Thomas, Milton Thomas, Paul Yankton, and adopted-brother, Terry Dunn; sisters Annie Rene Thomas, Cheryl Thomas, Marilyn Thomas, Anna Thomas, and Joyce Thomas-Young Bear; brother-in-law, Curtis Young Bear; special uncles, Harvey Buck Elk and Gideon Buck Elk; special aunts, Lillian Mudgett and Lorraine Greybear; special nephews, David Keo and Wade Nestell; and many uncles, aunts, brothers-in-laws, nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Active Pallbearers: Adrian Thomas Jr., Adrian Thomas III, Adriano Martin, Waylon Stands Jr., Royce McKay, and Darnell Two Bulls.

Honorary Pallbearers: Warren & Geraldine Buck Elk Family ~ Robert ‘Winch’ Buck Elk Family ~ Gloria Buck Elk Family ~ Esther Buck Elk-Hapa Family ~ John & Mona Chaske ~ Joanne Smith-Yankton Family ~ Michelle Thomas Family ~ Helena Littleghost Family ~ Thomas ‘Lil Tom’ Robertson ~ Timothy DeMarce ~ Dean Dauphinais Sr. ~ Duane Jackson Sr. ~ Joseph & Clarice Lawrence ~ Irene Skunk Family ~ Josephine Skunk-LaRoche Family ~ Shirley Eagle Thunder-Crane Family ~ Rachel Eagle Thunder-LaRoche Family ~ Darrick Ami Family ~ June Gourd Family ~ Marty Alex ~ Luwonna Cavanaugh ~ Jeanne Cavanaugh Family ~ Jenny White Family ~ Chaske Family ~ Littlewind Family ~ Greybear Family ~ Mudgett Family.

We also want to extend our gratitude to John Chaske, Kenneth Hill, Lonna Jackson-Street, Gary Owlboy, Georgiann LaCroix, Marlana Littlewind, Dr. Jeffrey Vaagen and Nurse Sue Myrum at Spirit Lake Health Center, Altru Health & Altru Home Healthcare staff, Sanford Health & Sandford Equip staff, Good Sam Home Health staff, Spirit Lake Tribal Health Public Health Nurse Colette Lyman, Spirit Lake Tribal Health Transportation staff, Spirit Lake Tribe E.M.S/Ambulance Services staff, and other medical staff who helped with Adrian’s medical care. If we have left anyone out during this difficult time, please know it was not intentional.

The procession will leave from City Plaza, Devils Lake at 4:00p.m. on Sunday. Upon entering the Crow Hill District, the Gary Owlboy Horse Team will carry Adrian from Clem Ryan’s Hill around the truck trail and to the Crow Hill Wellness Center.

Drum Groups: Cuthead Sioux, Kris White Drum Group, and anyone else who wishes to share songs is welcomed to do so.