Marlene Adrian Hopinkah, “Wanįk Nąą Hajijeįga”

Marlene Adrian Hopinkah, “Wanįk Nąą Hajijeįga”- ‘Bird that lands on a limb’, age 72, of Black River Falls,
WI, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, WI.
Marlene was born on April 1, 1952 to Benjamin Hopinkah and Lorraine Decorah. She grew up on her
parents homestead by Hatfield, WI and later moved to Merrillan, WI. She graduated from Lincoln High
School in Alma Center. After High School she attended the University of River Falls and continued her
studies at Rochester Community College of Rochester, MN. She also worked at the Mayo Clinic of
Rochester in Medical Records. When her parents passed away she came home to care for her siblings.
Later, she worked for the Black River Falls Middle School as a Teacher’s Aid.
She enjoyed her family, cooking, watching her shows, doing puzzles, going to Wal-Mart, cruising around,
and trying her luck at Bingo and the Casino. She will be remembered and missed by everyone without her
stand at the Pow-Wow with her famous frybread . Above all, Marlene’s favorite thing to be was the best
Gaga to her grandchildren and mom to her kids.
She got sober soon after her first grandchild and dedicated her life to her family. Her family is forever
grateful for all lessons she taught them- love, time, sacrifices, faith, and strength.
Marlene is survived by her children, Sara Dobbs and Nick Whitegull; grandchildren, Lucas Stacy,
Kaimery Hopinkah, Isabella Stacy, and Jasmine Stacy; great-grandchildren, Giovani Rivas, Isaiah Root,
and George Root; siblings, Charles (Janelle) Hopinkah and Loretta (Steve) Hopinkah; nieces and
nephews, Nehomah Thundercloud, Eric Hopinkah, Scott Lowe, Scott Hopinkah, Lynette Hopinkah,
Lindsey Whitegull, Nolan Whitegull, Ian Whitegull, Ryan Decorah, Joleen Decorah, Destin Hopinkah,
Benjamin Hopinkah, Charles Hopinkah, Ty Rae Hopinkah, Dylan Sohm, Ethan Sohm, Priscilla Sohm,
Candace Ringham, Alexis Thundercloud, Shana Walker, and Paul Krause.
She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Amanda Joy Whitegull; siblings, Jeanette Hopinkah,
Cheryl Hopinkah, Harriet “Kitty” Hopinkah, Lori Rieder, Judith Ann Thundercloud, and Ben Hopinkah;
niece, Arielle Whitegull; nephew, Donovan Sohm; and grandson, Jackson Hopinkah.