Charlene Kokesh, 65, died Tuesday, January 18, 2011at her home in Colman. She was born October 10, 1945 in Pipestone, MN to Leander and Blanche (Hillers-Taylor) Bell. She was a beautician for many years, owning her own business. Charlene received a BS degree in business administration at National College and taught business at the National College of Business in Sioux Falls. She worked on her Master's degree at SDSU. Charlene was a former secretary of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and was an over the road truck driver.

Grateful in sharing her life are her three children: Kevin Blankartz, Flandreau, Kristi (Keith) Bietz, Trent, Mark Savold, Colman; 13 grandchildren, Tonja, Timothy, Trevor, Brittany, Joseph, Jeremy, Cody, Ande, Kirby, Tristan, Izzabella, Forest, Ian, one great grandchild, Adrian and her cousins, Francis Wakeman, Jr., Elizabeth Wakeman, Diane Austin, Debra Wakeman, Fred Redwing, Dawn Serrano, her nieces and nephew, Erika Kaupp, Shane Kaupp, Dana Kaupp-Ellwanger, and Stacie Kaupp-Paulson, as well as many cousins, countless friends, and two sisters, Julene Lupkes, Colome, SD and Barbara, SC. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Chuck and one sister, Sheila.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Eastman Hall, Flandreau. There will be a prayer service at 2:00 pm Monday at Eastman Hall with burial to follow at First Presbyterian Cemetery. Visitation begins at 4:00 pm Friday with a 7:00 pm wake service at Eastman Hall.