Cheryl Lucille White

Cheryl Lucille White, 76, a member of the Prairie Island Indian Community, died Sunday, April 19, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born April 7, 1944 on Prairie Island to Elsie and Martin Whitebear, the youngest of 12. She was raised in the community where she attended Church of the Messiah and Burnside School in Red Wing. She later moved to Hastings where she attended Hastings Public School. She worked at Smeads and Mississippi Bell. In 1965 she was Miss Prairie Island for two years. She participated in traditional dancing and she always enjoyed being around her relatives, especially her auntie Blanche and Noah White. She moved to Kansas City, Missouri with her brother Willis White where she joined the Apostolic Faith Church. She sang in the White Family Trio with her siblings, Byron and Elissa White. Her mother and sister, Elissa followed her to Missouri and they lived together for eight years. Her mother passed away in 1973. Cheryl met Francisco Rodriguez in 1975 and the couple raised four children together. They lived in both Kansas City and Prairie Island where Cheryl worked at Island Bingo and later with Frank doing Lawn Service and at Hallmark in Kansas City. They were together for 39 years until Frank passed away in 2013. Cheryl loved being a mother and grandmother. She was a wonderful homemaker, gardener and cook. She was a talented seamstress and could play the accordion. She loved music and dance and enjoyed making the trip between Missouri and Minnesota. She enjoyed each day and was thankful for her life. She was always happiest around her family. She had a strong, life long faith in God which she passed onto her children and grandchildren.

She will be missed by many, including her children; Tonya Stewart, Francisca White, Jacqueline Mercer, Francisco White and step-daughter, Lori Ann Rodriguez; grandchildren, Paul Anthony Stewart, Joaquin Stewart, Tony Stewart, Joseph Hiner II, Cezar Franco, Elyceo Mercer, Maseo Mercer, Brooklyn Mercer, Hawke Mercer, Ondreya Costanza and Mark Costanza; sister, Vivian Mireau; brother, Byron White; as well as many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her siblings; Arthur White, Victoria White, Daniel White Eagle, James White, Marjorie White, Elissa White, Willis White, Marilyn Dow and Charity Thunder; and her parents, Martin and Elsie Whitebear.

A private family service will be held in Red Wing prior to her burial at Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com