Benjamin James Yankton

Benjamin James Yankton 39 of Denver, Colorado formerly of the Spirit Lake Nation passed away on Monday, April 26, 2025 at the Denver Memorial Hospital with loving family at his side.

Visitation for Benjamin will be at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Reverend Paul Schuster celebrating the Mass and burial in the Greywater Cemetery, rural St. Michael. Music will be provided by Audi Swiftbird and all Drum Groups are welcome to share their songs in memory of Benjamin. The procession to St. Michael will leave on Thursday, May 8th at 9:99 a,m, from City Plaza, Devils Lake

The family invites everyone to share a meal with them after the burial at the Tekakwitha Center in St. Michael.

Benjamin James Yankton, son of Quentin Yankton and Eileen Eagleman was born on February 1, 1986 in Devils Lake. He attended Four Winds School until his early teens when he moved to Colorado with his mother.

He lived and worked in Colorado through the years. He always enjoyed playing basketball with friends and just hanging out with them. He had several life long friendships made while attending Four Winds and always enjoyed coming back to the Spirit Lake Nation to reconnect with his dear family and old friends.

Benjamin’s loving family who survive include his children Lexi and Alec Yankton (Mother Robin Brown), Elisa, Arionna, and Jaydeen (Mother Jessica Cavanaugh); siblings Patrick Schmid-Yankton, Brian Pearson, Almira Iceman, Quentin Yankton Jr., Preston Yankton, Scott Yankton, Shantoya Yankton and Marty BullShows; many nieces and nephews, cousins and precious aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his mother Eileen Eagleman, brother Todd Yankton, grandparents Benjamin Eagleman, Anna Rose BoneShirt, James Yankton Sr., Pauline Greywater and Mike Greywater, uncles Scott Yankton and Alex Yankton, Wambli Eagleman cousins and Jarrell Eagleman cousins.

Active Casket Bearers will be Patrick Schmid Yankton, Fulton Merrick, Preston Yankton, Roger Yankton Jr., Dakota Dubois and Joe Yankton. Honorary Bearers are Jeff Schemp, Fred Schemp Jr., Bonnie Jerome, Staff of the Denver Memorial Hospital, Collin BroncoBill, Robert Staples, Byron Eagleman, Casey Eagleman, Cory Eagleman, CW Eagleman, Anthony Running, George Scott, Rayson Scott, Benji Eagleman, Wambli Brody Eagleman, Red Eagleman, Anna Eagleman, Adrian Eagleman, Burning Brest Boys and Benjamin’s many friends and relatives.

If we forgot to name someone, it wasn’t intentional. Please forgive us as we are doing our best during this very difficult time.