Our beautiful “Pooh Bear” Sakara Louise Topp, age 25, of Onida, South Dakota, left this world behind by suicide when her “demons” just became too much for her shattered mind to process, on the afternoon of September 10, 2020.

Sakara Louise Larson was born to Tammy Lynn Larson in Jamestown, ND, on January 10, 1995. She was an absolute perfect beauty. Sakara and Tammy later joined forces with Lee James Topp at his residence in Grace City, ND. On April 10, 2000, she welcomed her chubby, smiley baby brother, Brayden Wallace Topp into their family. Like any great sister, she showered her brother with love and an occasional punch! They grew up to share an incredible bond. Lee and Tammy were married on August 4, 2001, but later divorced in 2011. On September 2, 2003, Lee made Sakara one of the happiest little girls in the world when he legally made her his own; plus, she was excited that her last name finally matched everyone else’s. Lee remarried Nikki Olson on October 4, 2014. 

Sakara attended grade school at Midkota Elementary in Binford, ND, and high school at Midkota High in Glenfield, ND. She was active in basketball and volleyball. She loved to play and compete, but she especially loved the bond she shared with other players on the team and all the fun memories they made at practices and on bus rides. 

Sakara’s sports career was cut short when our baby girl welcomed her own baby boy, Kadyx Loren-Ray Topp, into this world on June 20, 2011. Being a teenage mom and finishing high school were tough, but armed with some dedicated helpers, she graduated with her class, with honors, and college credits in May 2013. 

Sakara and Kadyx moved to South Dakota in 2013. She attended one semester of college at SDSU, but found she just wasn’t ready for college yet. She lived in Brookings, South Dakota, until 2019. It was while she was in Brookings that we started to notice, her inner “demons” (as she referred to them) began to grab hold of her, and when we started to notice her struggle with alcohol as well, a suspected maladaptive coping technique. 

In 2019, she moved to Onida, SD, to be closer to her mom, Tammy and her mom’s fiancé, Kevin Thibodeau, for moral supports and to help with her little man, Kadyx, while she worked on getting the help she needed. She worked at Don’s grocery store and started counseling at Capital Area Counseling in Pierre, SD. She soon decided to go to treatment at a facility in Montana, with the support of her entire family, in the summer of 2020. She did very well for a short time, but her inner demons returned with vengeance and this time they walked away with her life. 

Her family asks that you remember Sakara, not by the action that took her life, but by her amazing smile and kind and generous heart. She left us all far too soon, but left us with some amazing memories. Cherish those memories and hold them close to your heart. Remember her with love and compassion. 

Sakara is survived by her amazing little man, Kadyx, and her beloved fur baby, Missy, Onida, SD; her mom and step-dad, Tammy Topp and Kevin Thibodea, Onida, SD; her dad and step-mom, Lee and Nikki Topp, Grace City, ND; brother, Brayden Topp, Carrington, ND; step-brother, Ryan McGregor and daughter Brynley, Fargo, ND; step-brother Jaden McGregor and Mikaela Carlson, Fargo, ND; step-sister, Siehera Thibodeau and fiancé Anthony Behr, Sioux Falls, SD; step-brothers Kevin Thibodeau, Brookings, SD, and Kyle Thibodeau, Toronto, SD; grandparents, Ray and Patricia Topp, Grace City, ND; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

She was preceded in death by grandparents, Loren and Lavon Larson, who were there to welcome her with open arms and a ready hug.

 

Her Visitation will be Thursday, September 17, 2020, 9:00AM-4:00PM at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington, and will continue at from 6:00PM 7:00PM followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Carrington.

Funeral Service will be held Friday, September 18, 2020 at 2:00PM at Midkota High School, Glenfield, ND.

Burial will be at the Grace City Cemetery, Grace City, ND.