Stephen Hinhan Maza (Iron Owl) Hoksina

Stephen Hoksina, “Hinhan Maza” (Iron Owl) 101, an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Tribe, passed away at his home in rural Devils Lake, ND surrounded by his loving family and in the care of his niece and Altru Hospice. Stephen was born, Easter Sunday afternoon , April 9, 1916 to Agnes Red Horse and Jessie Hoksina, at Laillie, rural Fort Totten, near Oberon, ND. He was raised as an only child by his grandfather Mazawanapeya until his death and then lived with his grandparents Bessie and Smiley Smith, and spent time with his Grandma Angeline through-out summer years.  He attended the local Catholic mission schools and Fort Totten High School.  He was fluent in his Dakota language his entire life.  He was raised in the Dakota way.  He held strong kinship customs where prayer and singing were a part of everyone’s home life.  He was also brought up in the Presbyterian Church Stephen attended and studied at Wahpeton State School of Science and studied Accounting. He enrolled, attended and graduated at Crown Bible College in Minnesota where he studied Theology, voice, singing and piano lessons. To support himself, he worked in packing plants and other plant factories as well as working for a Community Credit Corporation as an accountant. In 1946, after bible college graduation, he moved to Chillton, Wisconsin to assist in the pastoral leadership of the local Indian community church. While there he began working for the US Department of Health as an Environmental Health worker and later transferred to Pine Ridge, SD to continue in the same field of work. On March 23, 1956, while in Pine Ridge, Stephen was united in marriage to Mabel Emge of Bellville, Illinois. They both loved each other faithfully, sharing the same values. They studied biblical devotional readings and scripture throughout their married life. While both remained employed with Pine Ridge IHS for a time, they decided to transfer to Fort Belknap, Montana Service Unit and later to Tuba City, Arizona where they both retired after many years of service and moved to Sedona, Arizona. In retirement they continued to travel the world together; voyaging trips to the Hawaiian Islands, Central and South America, Mexico City, and other places such as the World’s Fair in Japan, Hong Kong, China, Alaska, and New Zealand. Stephen always shared the Dakota culture and traditions where ever he traveled. He also exemplified a life of humility, generosity, kindness, love and prayer where ever he traveled. Sad times hit after a time of hospitalizations, his beloved wife, (his sweets) Mabel passed on in 1972.  In 1979, Stephen returned to the Spirit Lake Nation, making his home in Devils Lake, ND. Stephen’s motto in life was “keep busy, stay active”.  While immediately noticing the changes in his Dakota community traditions that involved the down size in speaking the language, he later decided to assist with contributing his time, teachings and wisdoms as he was a lifetime fluent speaker, he joined the Dakota Language Preservation Group at CCCC. He also continued to attend services at Bdecan Presbyterian Church in Wood Lake as he truly loved the Lord Jesus Christ his Savior. He prayed daily for all of his family, relatives and friends, all others from his community. He spent dedicated hours in daily prayer and up to the time of his passing, he prayed 24 hours day and night and in his sleep. Iron Owl lived the Dakota life his entire life, for his nation, family, tiospaye relatives, adopted relatives and life-long friends. He leaves behind a fine example of love, prayer, thoughtfulness, gentleness, faithfulness and wisdom.  He was preceded in death by his parents Agnes Redhorse and Jessie Hoksina, grandparents Phillip Cransy Red Horse, Mary Ironroad, Bessie Smith and Unkana Hoksina, Angeline YoungBear and Jim Yankton, Mazawanapeya and Mary Brown. He is survived by all living descendants of his grandparents and siblings of Poplar MT, Sisseton, SD and Ft. Yates, ND:  Donald Gill, Helena Brown, Antoine Walking Eagle, Leo Walking Eagle and Theresa Walking Eagle.  A Wake for Stephen will be held at the Fort Totten Wellness Center on Thursday, November 16, 2017 beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a time to honor and remember Stephen at 7:00 p.m. The procession to Fort Totten will leave on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. from the City Plaza (old Walmart). Funeral Services for Iron Owl will be held on Friday, November 17th at 10:00 a.m. also at Fort Totten Wellness Center.  Reverend Robert Buechler and Spirit Lake Elder Joe Lawrence will officiate and Stephen will be laid to rest in the Crow Hill Presbyterian Cemetery at the foot of his father and beside his paternal grandmother. Music will be provided by the Lake Region Drum, Bdecan Presbyterian Church and all other drums are welcome.