In Loving Memory of Jackie Yankton

Jackie Yankton was born on June 10, 1959, and passed away on June 28, 2026, at 4:30 a.m. in Devils Lake, North Dakota, surrounded by the love of her family.

Jackie graduated from Fort Totten High School with the Class of 1977. She continued her education at Haskell Indian Junior College and later attended Cankdeska Cikana Community College, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree.

Throughout her life, Jackie worked in many positions she loved, including Spirit Lake Ambulance, Healthy Start, Dakota Tribal Industries, Brunswick Corporation, Food Distribution, Dakota Bingo Palace, and Spirit Lake Casino. She was known for her strong work ethic, caring heart, and willingness to help others.

We want to celebrate the amazing person she was. She was our "Viking Queen," always cheering (and yelling!) at the TV during football games. She had a gift for conversation and could talk to anyone, always making people laugh with her stories, jokes, and larger-than-life personality. She had a heart full of love and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She also had a special love for turtles, which brought her so much joy and became one of the many things that remind us of her kind and gentle spirit.

She was a loving, strong-minded, and caring person. Anyone who had the chance to know her, or even have a conversation with her, would tell you what a genuinely good person she was. She had a gift for making everyone feel welcome. If you came to her apartment around mealtime, you were always invited to sit down and eat with her. If she had extra food, she gladly shared it with the neighbors upstairs or anyone who needed a meal. If someone was running low on pasta or other pantry staples, she always had plenty and would tell them to come pick out whatever they needed. Her pantry was legendary—especially the corner stacked with block after block of cheese, usually more than ten at a time. She believed no one should go hungry if she could help it.

More than anything, she loved her family. Some of her happiest moments were when her children, grandchildren, and loved ones came to visit. She cherished every moment she spent with her grandkids, and seeing them always brought a smile to her face. Family meant everything to her. She also loved making trips to visit her relatives from New York and Canada. Those visits were incredibly special to her, and she treasured the time she spent with them and the memories they created together.

The memories we shared with her will stay with us forever. Her laughter, strength, generosity, and unconditional love for her family, friends, and community are the legacy she leaves behind. She touched so many lives simply by being herself. Though she is no longer with us, her kindness, love, and the countless memories she gave us will live on forever. She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

Family was the center of Jackie's life. She took great pride in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and treasured every opportunity to spend time with them. Her kindness, generosity, humor, and love will continue to live on through the many lives she touched.

Jackie was preceded in death by her sons, Barry Young and Peter Young; her mother, Pauline Greywater; her stepfather, Michael Greywater; her father, James Yankton Sr.; her brothers, Alex Yankton and Scott Yankton; and her sisters, Roberta Yankton, Jessica Yankton, Andrea Ironsheild, Lois Varon, and Marsha Littlewind.

She is survived by her children and their families: Jared Yankton and his wife, Linda; Lance Young and his significant other, Jerah; Jessica Young; and Gaberial Lenoir and her husband, James Lenoir, and Pauline King. grandmother, Helena Littleghost. She is also survived by her brothers, Roger Yankton, Quentin Yankton, James Yankton Jr., Alfred "Lemon" Longie, and Mike "Baby Mike" Greywater; and her sisters, Paulette Lenoir, Celeste Herman, Valerie Bull, and Clarice Lawrence. Her grandchildren include Jameson, Morgan, Sage, Tristan, Keysha, and Yareth; Julissa, Skyla, Dakota, and Penelope; Jaron, Jericho, Tiara, and Jace; and Nevaeh, Maziah, Jacqueline, Jazlynn, James Jr. ("LJ"), and Justice. Her great-grandchildren include Mathias and Selene, the children of Tiara. Jackie also held a special place in her heart for Bailey and Quinn Redfox. her Godchild Dana Rose Yankton.

Jackie's love extended far beyond her immediate family. Throughout her life, many people lovingly called her "Auntie," and many children knew her simply as "Grandma Jackie." She welcomed others with an open heart and treated countless friends and loved ones as family.

The family would also like to recognize David and Paco de la Paz, along with the many friends, relatives, and loved ones who shared a special place in Jackie's life.

Pallbearers: Shilo Knutson, Patrick Schmidt, Terry Belgarde, Dakota Dubois, Fulton Merrick, Morgan Yankton, and Lane Makes Room for Them. 

Honorary Pallbearers:Waylon and Renita Shaw; the White Cloud Family; Shelly and Kipp Gates; Darla Black and Family; Richard and Bonnie Yankton; Andy and Tammy Demarce; Susie Thunder; Karen Ferreira; Lois and Keith Leban; Marva Tollefson; Jeaneen Littleghost; Helena Littleghost Family; Brenda Jackson; Diane and Brian Foote; Renee and Rick Crowfoot; Douglas Yankton; Preston Yankton; Johnny Vaughn; Annabel Cavanaugh; Kevin Morin; Corey Shaw and Family; Carmen and Onna Littlewind; Yvonne and Louie Dubois; Myra and Clayton Dubois; Charlene and Jeanette Walking Eagle; Heather Skadsem and Alex Lawrence and Family; Darlene Wadsworth and Family; Arlene Belgarde; the McDonald Family; Marty and Jeanette Jackson; the Lawrence Family; Gloria Corneille; Lori Hinderscheit; Julie Olson; Teresa Nelson; Gary Vick; and Jeannie Hackman.

The family sincerely apologizes for any misspellings of names or for anyone who may have been unintentionally omitted. Any omission is not intentional and reflects only the difficulty of gathering family information during a time of grief. We ask for your understanding and invite anyone with corrections or additions to share them with the family.

Jackie will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.

The Wake for Jackie will be on Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 at St. Michael's Wellness Center from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with burial in St. Michael's Cemetery.