Kenneth “Knute” Graywater Sr. was born at the home of Alexander and Elizabeth Greywater at Eastend in St. Michaels, ND. He grew up with many siblings and relatives under one roof.  He came from humble beginnings and a big family.  He talked about having to call “Places Back” whenever leaving his spot on the couch.  He spent a lot of time hunting and foraging for food, which was normal for the time.  He attended grade school & middle school in Fort Totten.  He attended Flandreau Indian School and later transferred to Oberon High School, graduating in 1969. He lettered in basketball, track and cross country.  He left his Letterman Jacket at Alcatraz during the AIM Occupation in the early 1970’s while in college.  He continued his education at Haskell Indian Nations University, Navajo Community College, and received his Architectural Drafting Degree from Lake Region College.

When Knute was a young adult, he enjoyed playing travel basketball, softball, fishing and hunting.  He served his community on boards including the Boys and Girls Club, Rodeo Club, Housing Boards in Ft Totten, and numerous boards throughout his life.  He spent a lot of time with the Frank and Mary Charboneau Family.  He bowled in 4 different leagues a week at the Royal Lanes Bowling Alley.  Traveling to tournaments in North and South Dakota with his whole family.  He taught his kids how to bowl and supported them on Saturday morning youth leagues.  Raising horses was also a favored past time that he enjoyed.  He would always talk about how peaceful it was to just sit and watch them.  Many of his good time adventures involved good friends and a sock full of change.

Knute was married to Jeanne Cavanaugh from 1972-1976.  They lived in Ft. Totten where they had 2 children, Kimberly Graywater Three Irons and James “Jim” Graywater.

Knute was married to Beverly McKay on May 15, 1982.  They made their home in Ft. Totten and had 4 children, Carmita Graywater St.Pierre, Kenneth “KJ” Graywater Jr., Cody Graywater Sr., & Kendell Graywater.

Knute was a proud supporter of his kids and grandkids in all their activities including bowling, skiing, basketball, football, track & field and golf.  With the company of Etta Beans, he would make it to every sporting event, even if he had to make a trip to 2 separate places in a single day.

Golf was a favored pastime in his older years.  He enjoyed playing rain or shine, day or night.  He had an Ace on hole #3 at the New Rockford Golf Couse, with a witness.  He made good friends all over while playing in tournaments near and far.  He could have won them all if his partners told him they wanted to win.

In his retirement, he enjoyed collecting flashlights and gardening.  He loved spending time watching all of his grandchildren grow up and play.  He also loved fixing things instead of replacing them.  He adored streaming his great grandson Kole, and son-in-law, Daryl Sr. on the powwow trail.  He enjoyed watching the Four Winds Indians Basketball team.

He always expressed how proud he was of all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  He valued all of his friends and relatives.  The stories are many and they all started with, “What a guy needs to do…”

Knute jobs were Spirit Lake Housing Residential Coordinator, Collections Officer, CIAP Coordinator, Contract Officer and Director.  He served a term as the Fort Totten District Representative.

Hobbies included basketball, track, cross country, hunting, fishing, softball, bowling, raising horses, watching the news, tending his garden and golfing.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Beverly McKay Graywater; daughters: Kimberly (Daryl) Three Irons, Carmita St. Pierre & Kendell Graywater; sons: Kenneth “KJ” (Alyssa) Graywater Jr. & Cody (Donna) Graywater; grandchildren: JoEtta, Darion (Christine), Darwin (Destin), Koltin Three Irons, Christina (Lorenzo) Hayes, Kailon (Brianna) Graywater, Maria, Patrick, Nicholas, Robert, Kaydee St. Pierre, Kala Greene, Jaélyn (Joseph) Cochenour, Josiah (Ashley) Jester, Melvin (Kristen) Langstaff, Bailee (Rock) Langstaff, Cody Jr., Calden, Heyaka Graywater, Brayden, Braylee Azure, Kennedi Wadsworth & Avonna Smith; 16 great grandchildren; sisters: Sonta (Dean) Dauphinais, Della Belgarde, Brenda Robertson, Barbara Robertson & Beverly LaBelle and brothers: Terry Dean Iceman and Charlie Walker.

Knute is preceded in death and was welcomed home by his loving family & good friends. Parents, Alexander Greywater Sr. & Elizabeth Robertson; son, James “Jim” Graywater; siblings: Israel, Michael, Alexander Jr, Andrew, Delemma, Robert, Richard, Renae, Pamela & Damian; grandsons, Daryl Three Irons Jr & Alden Black; great granddaughter, Julynn Langstaff; brother, Vincent Walker and buddies: Frank Charboneau Jr., Greg Greene, Big Bruce McKay, Conrad DeMarce, Don Hart, Ron Hunt Sr., David Azure Sr., Gary Thumb Sr. & Homer Whitebuffalo.

Pallbearers: Kailon Graywater, Darion Three Irons, Darwin Three Irons, Koltin Three Irons, Brayden Azure, Cody Graywater Jr., Calden Graywater, Heyaka Graywater.

Honorary Pallbearers: Robert “Bob” and Euretta McKay Family, Sonta and Dean Dauphanais Family, James “Bimbo” LeNoir Family, Brenda Robertson Family, Barbara Robertson Family, Beverly LaBelle Family, Della Belgarde Family, Terry Dean Iceman Family, Susie Fox Family, California Rosal Family, Sheldon and Brigitte Greywater Family, Lisa and Merle Greywater Family, Robert and Carol Graywater Family, Denny Graywater Family, Wayne and Jennifer Black Family, Dusty and Sherly Black Family, Robert “Horse” and Alfreda Charboneau Family, Jeannie, Connie and Frank Charboneau Family, Carol Black Family, McDonald Family, Mitchell LeNoir Family, Roger Yankton Family, Ann Wadsworth Family, Mary Trottier Family, Richard and Lonna Street Family, Anderson Family, Joseph Lawrence Sr. Family, Tessie Brown, Joanne Smith, Helena LittleGhost, Jimmy Smith Family, Michelle (Ed) Cook Mrozinski Family, Akwasasne Mohawk Family, Oberon Class of 1969 and a host of nieces, nephews and relatives.

Golfing Buddies: Phillip “Skip” Longie Family, Harold McGowan, Spencer and Rolanda Laducer Family, John and Rena Lohnes Family.

Special Thanks to Dr. Vaagen and Nurse Sue from Spirit Lake Health Center, Spirit Lake EMS Crew, FTPD, SLFD, CHI St. Alexis Staff, Altru Staff, Sanford Medical Staff, Spirit Lake Housing Board and Corporation, Spirit Lake Tribal Council Oyate Café and Curtis & Kristi Black.

The Kenneth “Knute” Graywater Sr. family will be having a traditional giveaway at the 1-year memorial.  We appreciate everyone that reached out, sent condolences and offered kind words.  We know that Knute had a big impact on a lot of people and apologize for anyone we forgot to mention.

 

Kenneth’s Visitation will be Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 5:00PM followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00PM all at St. Michael Catholic Church, St. Michael, ND. 

Friends wishing to join the procession from New Rockford to St. Michael  may gather on the St. Jerome’s road, Fort Totten, prior to 4:15PM.

A Funeral Service will be held Monday, March 11, 2024 at 10:00AM at St. Michael Catholic Church, St. Michael, ND.

His Burial will be at the St. Jerome’s Catholic Cemetery, Ft. Totten, ND.