Hannah Elaine Incognito departed this life to make her journey to the spirit world on April 4th, 2018, in her loving home with her Husband William (Bill) Lee Incognito, Grandson James Beston, Daughter Willa (Incognito) and Shane Frafford. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield. Wake services were held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 5:00 pm at the complex. Burial was at the Arikara Congregational Cemetery in White Shield.
Hannah was born on June 17, 1945 to the late Rev. Robert Fox and Naomi (Johnson) Fox at the Winnebago Indian Hospital in Winnebago, Nebraska. Elaine was named after her and was raised by her Grandmother the late Hannah Wash-Fox. Elaine is a member of the Awahu Band, a member of the Joseph Young Hawk/Elmer Bear Post 253 American Legion Auxilliary, and the Congregational Church attending services at the Episcopalian Church in White Shield.
Elaine attended grade school in Elbowoods, Halliday, Twin Buttes, White Shield, and St. Mary's School for Indian Girls in Springfield, South Dakota. Elaine attended White Shield High School and graduated on May 22, 1963.
In 1964 she attended American Indian Art Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1965, during the relocation era she attended Cook County General Hospital, Los Angeles, California where she received her certification in Vocational Nursing. On April 30th, 1965 she met and married William H. Incognito in the Catholic Church at Richmond, California. Judy (Hopkins) LaBeau and her husband Sam LaBeau were their maid of honor and best man. They resided in Valley Jo, & Richmond, California, while Bill was in the Navy. When Bill worked on the oil rigs, Bill and Elaine moved around living in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and North Dakota.
Elaine started working as a Teachers-Aid Program in the late 1960's at the White Shield Headstart, for a few years. This is when she found her true passion for teaching, as she started to attend classes every summer along with others who were a part of a Dream's Catcher initiative to grow your own educators to return to communities to teach. Elaine received and graduated with her degree in Elementary School Education from the University of North Dakota in 1973, passing her Teacher's Certification exam, and continued on for her Elementary Administration Degree.
Elaine taught in the Elementary School for many years at United Tribes, along with one year as a substitute teacher. Elaine applied for a teaching job in Twin Buttes, North Dakota for the 5th & 6th grade. Her quote, "I taught all my children and wouldn't have given that joy up for all the tea in China." Elaine enjoyed "teaching all the children as I did my own, I enjoyed being a part of their learning."
Elaine supported education and loved teaching to promote young people to use their minds, to be creative, and to become self-sufficient. She always had a special place in her heart for each and every one of her students. She advocated for others to pursue their degrees to teach, promoting others, and mentoring future educators for our tribal communities. She is especially proud of her daughter Willa's pursuit for the same professional passion to educate children.
In 2007, Elaine retired from teaching and one of her special achievements was receiving the Golden Apple Teacher's Award in 1997. Even though she retired, she never stopped teaching those that looked up to her. At the Jamestown River Correctional Institute, she was the Madea momma to her inmate daughters during their bible studies.
Throughout her life, Elaine enjoyed cooking, sewing, crafting, decorating, traveling and she was extremely fond of the Indian Club in White Shield. She especially enjoyed family events, auxiliary events, ceremonies, elders meetings, elder trips, cards, and pow-wows. She will always be fondly remembered as one of the Board of Directors planning the Fox-Morsette Family reunion. Elaine loved seeing her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren dancing. We will all miss our priceless diamond. We loved sharing our mother for she was loved by many, and as you have a place in her heart, she has a place in hers for everyone. We will miss her very much but as her little grey camper sticker says, "Family a Journey of a Lifetime."
Elaine was preceded in death by her Parents, Robert and Naomi (Johnson) Fox, Twin sister, Brother Clifford Joe Fox and her furry chihuahua companion Chico.
Elaine is survived by her Husband William Incognito;Children: Willa (Incognito) and Shane Frafford, Twin Buttes; Melinda Balderas, New Town; Anthony and Jody (Walker) Incognito, Sioux City, IA; grand children: James Beston, Shannon Beston, Steven Finley, Broderick and Cindy (Seaboy) Balderas, Crystal Iron Shield, Hannah Balderas, Miranda Zertuche, Andrea (Walker) and Colton Kuehn, Julia Incognito, James Incognito, Makayla Balderas; great-grand children: Nathaniel Mongram, Tayla Beston, Cade Beston, Layla Kuehn, Lola Kuehn, Zira Balderas, Rosalina Zertuche; siblings: Duane and Bonnie Fox, June and Tooksie Eagle, Jean and John Red Hawk, and Bobbette Hopkins; Godchildren: Daunelle Marsette, Shelly (Eagle) Everett, Jeanette Elaine Fox, Sandra Finley, and Lawrence Finley; all her many nephews, nieces, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all relations.