Royce Killsontop of rural Arapahoe died Saturday, March 29, 2008, at his home. He was 31 years old.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 3, 2008, at St. Stephen's Catholic Church south of Riverton. The Rev. Father Dan Gannon will officiate.
Interment will follow at the Arapaho Catholic Cemetery at St. Stephen's.
There will be a rosary at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Blue Sky Hall at Ethete, followed by a wake at the hall. A second rosary will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Great Plains Hall at Fort Washakie, followed by a wake at the home of Marie Oldman.
Royce Killsontop was born on Feb. 9, 1977, the son of Ramona Oldman. He attended Riverside Indian School, Haskell Indian Nations, and Central Wyoming College.
He lived his early years in Montana, Utah, and California. Upon starting high school, he lived in Oklahoma for four years then went to Kansas for school. He also lived in New Mexico and Michigan before returning home to Wyoming.
Mr. Killsontop was active in the pow-wow circuit, singing and drumming throughout Indian country.
He was a past president of United Tribes at CWC, ran on the cross-country track team at Riverside Indian School when they took the Class 2A state championship for Oklahoma.
Mr. Killsontop was a member of Eagle Wings, substitute for Sunrise School in Lander, and worked at various labor jobs.
He was studying TV and radio broadcast and had filmed various programs including work on the film "Star Troopers."
His family said Mr. Killsontop enjoyed spending time with family and friends, helping take care of his nephews and nieces, and participated in Halloween costume events.
Survivors include his mother, Ramona Oldman; step-fathers, Jr. Smith and Shane Montoya; sons, Tylin Killsontop, Josiah, Nathanyle, Augustine, and Alex Smith, Evan Smith, and Acelino Benavidez; daughters, Tessa Marie Killsontop, Marlissa Wells, and Yesceniya Trujillo; grandparents, Theresa Wells, Willard Gould, Haroldine Whitewolf, Imogene Wells, Rueben Jenkins, Wayne Brown, Flossie Brown, Eva Mead, Sophie Lavador, Theresa White, Viola Wanstall, Jerry and Elizabeth Smith; Godparents, Wayne and Connie Brown; adopted mother, Valerie Friday; sisters, Maria Smith of Riverton, Valene, and Jerri and Terri Smith of Salt Lake City, Utah, Elizabeth Smith of Pacifica, Calif., Mary Brown, Tessa Rae Killsontop of Riverton; aunts and uncles, Orlena Killsontop, Zola Killsontop, LuElla Monroe, Terry Teran, Pamela Sixfeathers, Benita Smith, Virgil Oldman, Steven M. Oldman, Larry Jr. Oldman, Ernest Oldman, Sr., Stevie C. Oldman, Curtis M. Oldman, Sr., and Willard Wells; numerous other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, Verle Killsontop; grandparents, Lawrence and Maria Oldman; an aunt, Nellie Daney; uncles, Marky Oldman, Gary, Pete, and Jason Killsontop; grandfathers, Pierre Killsontop and Matthew R. Oldman, Sr.; grandmother, Pearl Brown.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.