The FSST Executive Committee hosted a recognition luncheon for five FSST employees on Friday,  July 13th, at Eastman Hall.
The Tribal Membership was invited to attend the honoring in recognition of tribal employees with 25 years or better of continuous service with the Tribe.
The welcome was given by Tribal President Joshua Weston, the blessing was given by elder Sid Byrd in Dakota. A meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh baked bread, steamed carrots and many desserts was prepared and served by the Grace Moore Senior Citizens Center staff and volunteers.
(Pictured above from left to right: Bunnie Allen, Darlene (Allen) Bernard, Laurie Thomas, Fannie Armstrong, and Amber Allen accepting blanket on behalf of Samuel Allen)
The five employees honored were: Lavonna “Bunnie” Allen, Samuel Allen, Fannie Armstrong, Laurie Thomas and Darlene Bernard. Each of the honored employees were presented with a beautiful pendtelton blanket from the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Executive Committee as a token of appreciation for serving the FSST for over 25 years. Sam Allen wasn’t present at the recognition luncheon due to conflicting schedules but his daughter Amber Allen accepted his blanket on his behalf.
Lavonna “Bunnie Allen-Community Health Representative
Lavonna “Bunnie” Allen, daughter of the late Ray Allen and Lavern Redwing Allen, was born in Flandreau, South Dakota. She attended Flandreau Public and Flandreau High School. At eighteen years of age Bunnie moved to L.A. California and worked as a nurse’s aid at the County General Hospital for three years.
Bunnie moved back to Flandreau, then worked at the FIS Girls Dorm and as a teachers aid for a year. Then Bunnie worked as a daycare provider for the FIS also for a year. In 1979 Bunnie was hired by Agnes Ross and Kenny Allen for the FSST to work in medical records for three years. Bunnie recieved CHR training at Sioux San Hospital in Rapid City then began working as a CHR for the FSST Clinic.
Bunnie has been a CHR since and has been working for the Tribe for 28 years.
Sam Allen-Economic Development Resource Coordinator
Sam Allen, son of the late Ray Allen and Lavern Redwing Allen, was born in Flandreau, South Dakota. He attended Flandreau Public and Flandreau High School. Sam enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1967, served in Vietnam from 1968 and part of 1969 and was later assigned to the 7th Fleet Marines Mediterranean Cruise.
Sam was one of the first graduates of United Tribes of Bismarck, North Dakota in 1972; he attended Haskell Indian Junior College in 1973-1974, Sam was employed by the BIA Regional office from 1975-1979, where he worked in Finance and Tribal Government; during this employment with the BIA Sam took Business Administration courses at Northern State College, Aberdeen, South Dakota. Sam also served as the Tribal Veterans Service Officer for the State of South Dakota.
Sam has served on Tribal Council as the Secretary/Treasurer and Trustee positions. Sam has been employed for the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe a total of 29 years as Planner, Credit Officer and Economic Development Resource Coordinator. He has been an officer with the Gordon Weston Indian Veterans Post for 15 years, the Cultural Preservation officer for his Tribe for 10 years to present, Tax Director since 1992, and the BIA Roads Director for 29 years.
Fannie Armstrong-Enrollment Specialist
Fannie Armstrong was born in Flandreau, South Dakota to Hazen Cavender and Mabel Robertson, Cavender.
She attended school at the Pipestone Indian School and the Flandreau Indian School.
Fannie’s places of employment in the city of Flandreau were: Nace’s Café as a waitress, cook, and dishwasher. She also worked as a housekeeper for many people in Flandreau. Fannie worked as a nurse’s aid, cook and laundress at the Fairview Manor now the Riverview Manor. Fannie also worked as a laundress for the Flandreau Municipal Hospital.
Later Fannie worked at the Flandreau Indian School over a period of 18 years where she held many positions such as sewing in the Garment Factory, janitorial services in the academic building, instructional aid in the girl’s dormitory, cook in the kitchen and dining hall.
In May 1983, she was hired as Reference/Recordkeeping. Later her title changed to Enrollment Specialist. Fannie is still employed with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.
Laurie Thomas-Executive Assistant
Laurie was born in Flandreau, South Dakota, to JoAnn Nichols and to the late Robert Babcock. Laurie attended Egan Public School from kindergarten to 3rd grade. At that time her family moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ where she attended school until her senior year, moving back to Egan, SD graduating in 1978. After high school she attended Mitchell Technical Institute in Mitchell, SD and soon there after began working for the Tribe in December 1980 at the age of 20. She has one son Brook (who was 6 wks. old when she began with the Tribe) and now has a 11 month old granddaughter Paisley Brooke. Laurie is married to Kerry Thomas and has adult step children: Jerrid, Darin and Erin Thomas.
Darlene Bernard-Trustee III
Darlene (Allen) Bernard daughter of the late Raymond Allen and Lavern (Redwing) Allen was born in Flandreau, South Dakota. She attended Flandreau Public Elementary and Flandreau Public High.
Darlene attended college courses at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota in the field of counseling.
Then Darlene attended CHR training with IHS and worked with the CHR program at the first IHS Facility in Flandreau, which was at the FIS boys dorms with Judy Jones and Ms. Blum.
Darlene worked with the CHR program for 27 years until she resigned to serve on the FSST Executive Committee as Trustee I on Aug 5th 1998 she served her term until 2000.
Darlene was later elected Trustee III Aug 9th 2006.
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