Tonya Lynn

White Mountain

Everyone always starts out by saying what a wonderful person our loved one was, and how many great things they did. Tonya was not like that. I mean, she totally was sweet, kind, godly, but there was a unique sense of gratitude that she had, and it showed in her constant day-to-day living.

Tonya was my identical twin sister, born in Honolulu on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. She graduated Hirschi High School, worked in healthcare for a while, then at Shepherd AFB. In 1991, she moved to our father's home reservation, and began working for our tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux. She built up a grassroots organization for the Housing Authority whereby she assisted so many tribal members become something they never thought they'd be—first-time home buyers. For twenty years, Tonya worked for the Housing Authority, until catastrophic illness hit her, and she was let go from her position.

That was another turning point for Tonya, as she began a ministry to hurting people that glorified the Lord she loved so much. She not only ministered at Good News Assembly of God in McLaughlin, South Dakota, but she began a You tube channel ministry as well right around the time Covid hit. Those sermons are full of hope, encouragement, and the Words of Life that sustained Tonya herself.

People think that twins can feel what each other is feeling, know what the other is thinking—and yes, we actually could so often. But it was the individual things she experienced in her life that helped to not just frame the character of someone who loved God, accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, and was baptized in the Holy Spirit: it made her her own unique person. She went through some of the most ungodly pain, suffering, and disease. Instead of crushing her, it opened up the scent of hope and joy that can only come when someone has come out the other side of horrific suffering.

Tonya was super-intelligent, crazy creative, and so full of the joy of the Lord, that people will hear and feel the echo of a life lived fully in Christ for years to come. On October 13, 2021, Tonya joined her parents—Joan Mountain and Francis White Mountain in death, her older sister Marletta Mountain Torrence, and her younger sister Sandra Welch.

She is survived by her older brother Rocky White Mountain and his wife Emily White Mountain, their daughter Crystal Merkel and husband Kris Merkel, daughters Ava and Mia; also Rocky and Emily's son Matthew White Mountain and his daughter Remy; Tonya's twin sister Sonya White Mountain; Tonya's younger brother Stan Mountain, his eldest son Joshua Mountain, wife Jaredene, daughter Ella and son Greysen; Stan's youngest son Brody Mountain, wife Cortney, and daughter Henley. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles as well as a host of brothers and sisters in Christ.

"And we are not afraid but are quite content to die, for then we will be at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8.