MAYETTA, KS – Alvina “Mee-gis-kee” Wamego LaClair, 97, of Mayetta, KS, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2020, at her home with family by her side. She was born December 21, 1922, on the Potawatomi Common Land, the daughter of Henry and Florence (Walters) Wamego.
Alvina graduated from Chilocco Indian School in OK and also attended school in Pierre, SD and Genoa, NE. She lived most of her life on the Potawatomi Common Land. She also lived in Topeka and Kansas City.
She worked for the Sunflower Ammunition Plant in DeSoto, KS, during WWII and worked for many years for Scotch Dry Cleaners in Topeka.
Alvina was a member of the Drum Religion and Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. She was also proud to be a born again Christian.
She married Milton LaClair, this union produced 5 children, they later divorced.
Survivors include 1 son, Franklin LaClair (Barbara) of Topeka, KS; 2 daughters, Sara Gartenmayer of Mayetta, KS and Shirley Trull (Paul) of Mayetta, KS; 4 grandchildren, Travis Wanna, William LaClair, Rachael Webster and Caroline LaClair and 6 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Henry Wamego (1936); brother, Paul George Wamego (France 1944); sister, Vivian Arnold Gomez (1966); mother, Florence Wamego (1974); sister, Josie Pahmahmie (1977); son, James LaClair (1977); sister, Lottie Stump (1981); sister, Osie Tuckwin (1986); daughter, Marlene LaClair Wright (1989); granddaughter, Helen Wright (1989); sister, Louise “Cham” Rice (1990); sister, Beverly Nocktonick (1991); sister, Edna Sioux (1994); brother, Floyd Wamego (2004) and ex-husband, Milton LaClair (2016).
Alvina will lie in state Tuesday, June 9, 2020 until 6 p.m. and Wednesday, June 10, 2020 until 6 p.m. at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Private family burial will be Thursday at Wah-wak-sum Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to any local humane society. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.
- Courtesy of Mercer Funeral Homes