Sandra Mitchell 1960-2020
Sandra “TeNes” Mitchell, 59, Mayetta, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, at The University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.
She was born Oct. 24, 1960, in Holton, the daughter of Melvin Twin and Alberta Marie Nagmo. She graduated from Royal Valley High School in 1978 and later graduated from Washburn University in Topeka.
Ms. Mitchell lived on the Potawatomi Reservation most of her life and worked at various places.
She was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
She was married to Larry Fairman, later to Clifford Knoxsah and then to Bradley Orville Rice, who preceded her in death in 2015. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Melvin Twin and Alberta Marie Nagmo Wamego; her stepfather, Algernon Wamego; four brothers, Gary Mitchell, Larry Mitchell, Andrew Mitchell and Mike Wamego; and a nephew, Clint Wahquahboshkuk.
Survivors include her adopted mother, Judy Wabaunsee, Topeka; four daughters, Maria Fairman and husband Jose, Topeka, and Nickolasa Jackson and husband Robert, Maggie Mae Fairman and husband Josias and Pamela Kay Knoxsah, all of the Potawatomi Reservation; a son, Dale Knoxsah, Potawatomi Reservation; four sisters, Jackie Mitchell, Potawatomi Reservation, Shirlene Seymour, Winnebago, Neb., and Lisa Wamego and Edie Wamego, both of the Potawatomi Reservation; six brothers, Eddie Joe Mitchell, Potawatomi Reservation, Leo Mitchell, Valley Falls, and Randy Mitchell, John LeClere, Mando Evans and Lavern Hale, all of the Potawatomi Reservation; and 14 grandchildren, Asia, Kenneth, Felicity, Shanokwe, Daffodil, Maria Jose, Nagmo, Esteban, Oliver, Elsa, Larry, Miksekwe, Josias and Alberta.
Drum services will be held Wednesday evening, Jan. 15 at the Danceground Building. Burial will be held Thursday afternoon at Takako Cemetery. Ms. Mitchell will lie in state until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.
