Si-to, Dale Roger Buffalo
Si-to, Dale Roger Buffalo
Si-to, Dale Roger Buffalo, of Tama, was born April 11, 1958, in Iowa City, Iowa, and passed away Friday, April 3, 2015, at the age of 56 from the effects of cancer, in the care of Iowa River Hospice in Marshalltown, Iowa, and surrounded by family. Traditional services held at the Bear clan ceremonial house, wake on Saturday April 4, 2015, with interment in Meskwaki Cemetery on the Meskwaki Indian Settlement at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 5, 2015. Speaker: Homer Bear, Jr. Head Gravedigger: Brandon Wanatee.
Si-to is the son of Mary Ann Buffalo of Tama, Iowa, and Roland Columbus, Lower Sioux Tribe of Minnesota. He grew up on the Meskwaki Indian Settlement, followed Traditional Meskwaki Religion since birth, and belonged to the Bear clan. He enjoyed going to powwows and sang with different drum groups, was an excellent mechanic and carpenter, and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He attended Sac & Fox Day School on the Meskwaki Settlement and attended South Tama High School. Over the years he worked at the Marshalltown and Tama packing plants, and repaired vehicles, lawn mowers, tractors and just about anything. When his grandchildren came along, being called “Me-do” gave him the greatest joy above all else.
From 1978 to 1982 he was married to Ms. Andrianne Gomez, a union that gave him two children, Nicholas (Angelica) Buffalo and Simon (Dawn) Buffalo both of Tama.
Si-to is the youngest of his Meskwaki siblings: Amelia Lasley, Verna Davenport, and Johnathan Lantz Buffalo all of Tama. He is also survived by grandchildren Mary Ann Buffalo, Zavier Buffalo, Romeo Buffalo, Nevaeh Buffalo, December Buffalo, Dayton Buffalo, Jolena Rufus, Karmin Rufus, Hazel Rufus, and Raymond Rufus; nieces and nephews: Larry Lasley, Sr., Laurie Lasley-Santos, Leigh Lasley, Allison Lasley, Orrie Lasley Jr., Nader Buffalo, Richard Buffalo, Johnanna Rufus, Richard Birkey, Lyle Davenport, Ty Davenport, Eunice Davenport, Andrea Davenport, Carla Davenport, Jill Davenport, and Elke Davenport; and lots of uncles, aunts, cousins, other brothers and sisters, and his adopted mother, Uarda Johnson of Tama.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann Buffalo.