Juanita Rose Wakeman

Juanita Rose Wakeman (66) passed away on February 4, 2026 at Avera Hospital in Flandreau, South Dakota. Family present visitation will take place at 11:00 AM with a funeral service to follow beginning at 1:00 PM on Monday, February 9, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church Flandreau, SD.

Juanita Rose Wakeman was born on April 1, 1959, in Sisseton, South Dakota, to Gary Cochran, Sr. and Roberta White Cochran. She was the oldest of six siblings: Gary Cochran, Jr., Jeffrey Lawrence Cochran, Joseph Blackwolf, Roxanne Cochran, and James Cochran.

In the early 1970s, her family moved to Flandreau, South Dakota, where Juanita attended school and graduated from Flandreau High School in 1977.

Following graduation, Juanita married Cary “Racer” Wakeman on June 4, 1977. He sadly passed away on November 2, 1978. She later found love with Leon Budack, and together they were blessed with two children, Kerstyn and Danielle Lee (Dani). Their daughter Dani was diagnosed with myelogenous leukemia and passed away on March 19, 1989. Leon passed away on October 20, 1992.

Juanita worked for the United States Postal Service until the passing of her daughter. In 2000, she began working at Flandreau Indian School as a home living assistant, a position she held until her retirement in 2016. She was very close to the students she cared for and loved them deeply, and they loved her in return.

Juanita was a proud member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, Buffalo Lake District. She had a kind and generous heart, especially for animals, taking in and caring for any stray that came her way. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, cooking for everyone, and above all, adored her grandchildren and truly worshipped the ground they walked on. She was a beloved mother and grandmother to all of her kids.

She is survived by her daughter, Kerstyn Starr Budack; her siblings, Joseph Blackwolf, Roxanne Cochran, and James Cochran; her grandchildren, Andre Leon Thin Elk, Eric Michael Thin Elk, Kyla-Rey Roberta Thin Elk, and Vera Lee Thin Elk; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cary “Racer” Wakeman; her daughter, Danielle Lee Budack; her partner, Leon Budack; her nephew, Jeffrey Marshall Allen; her brothers, Gary Cochran Jr. and Jeffrey Lawrence Cochran; and her parents, Gary Cochran Sr. and Roberta White Cochran.

The family gives their heartfelt thanks to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Tribal Maintenance, and all of Juanita’s Flandreau Indian School family and friends for their love and support.