Benjamin Hill LaPointe (Toka Inyanka) was born on March 22, 1950 in Wagner, SD to Cecelia Brown Thunder of Pine Ridge, SD and Rev. Enoch LaPointe of Greenwood, SD. Ben and his twin brother, John Amos, were the first set of twins born at the Wagner Hospital. Ben began his Spiritual Journey on Dec. 18, 2017 in Valentine, NE. His other siblings were Marie Ryan, Lloyd Wayne LaPointe, Ernestine Davis, Enoch ‘Buzz’ LaPointe, Jr. and Elizabeth Carter.

Ben was first enrolled at Pine Ridge agency and in late years switched his enrollment to Yankton Sioux. His mother passed away when he and John were approximately 12 years old and it was a struggle after that without their mother. Ben and his brother attended all of school at Pine Ridge, SD (Oglala Community High School). They took 4 years of track, basketball and football. Ben was homecoming king.

After high school, Ben joined the US Navy (1970-74) and worked as a Fireman: Boiler Tech on his ship the USS Kitty Hawk. He served his time Vietnam with many stories to tell. In 1975, he met Charlotte Beauvais at Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell, SD when she was attending the RN program. They met during Psychology class and married two years later in 1977. Their two children are Gary ‘Wi Cikala’ LaPointe and Mrs. Brenna Schmit. Grandchildren include the LaPointe Tiospaye: Shanelle, Ryan, Kadin, Nathaniel & Benjamin and the Schmit Tiospaye: Chance, Aubryanna Victoria, Daltyn Leo, M’elaiya Skuya and baby Oakley. Ben’s first cousins are numerous...

Affiliations

US Navy