Tanner James Spears
June 25, 1992 - April 10, 2020

​Services for Tanner James Spears, 27, of Dickinson, ND, were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Holy Name Episcopal Cemetery at Fort George, SD.
Tanner James Spears died April 10, 2020, at home in Dickinson, ND.
Tanner James Spears was born June 25, 1992, at Pierre, SD, to Lesley Spears and Jamie Luidahl.
He attended school at Anne Sullivan Elementary, Patrick Henry Middle School and graduated from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD. He attended college at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, then obtained a journeyman’s license to be a certified plumber, which was his occupation for over eight years. He had been employed with Olson Construction and Remodeling and most recently with Shane White Plumbing in Dickinson, ND.
As a junior in high school, Tanner taught himself to play the acoustic guitar from YouTube and quickly became a skilled player, later learning bass guitar as well. This became his favorite pastime and motivated him to join
a band in 2018. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was one of his musical inspirations.
Tanner maintained a tight-knit group of friends from grade school into adulthood. His best friend since third grade, whom he considered a brother, was Christian Kool. Christian shared a tribute to Tanner this past week, encouraging us to “love fully and without conditions . . . the way that Tanner did,” adding that Tanner “laughed and joked more than anyone I’ve ever met . . . and cared deeply about his friends and family.”
Growing up, Tanner had six uncles he looked up to very much who encouraged, influenced and inspired him in different ways.
His Great Grandma Esther Spears also played an important nurturing role in his life and his Grandpa Pat and Uncle Mike encouraged him in matters of faith and identity.
As a member of the Lower Brule Tribe, Tanner identified with Lakota spiritual beliefs and we know that our relatives who have passed on are welcoming him now on the other side, where he will be at peace.
Grateful for having shared his life are his mother, Lesley Spears; his brothers, Caileb Simmons and Kaden Spears and sisters, Tory Spears and Megan Spears.
He was preceded in death by his Grandpa Pat, Uncle Mike, Uncle Dan, Aunt Kathy and Great Grandma Carol.
Hickey Funeral Chapel of Chamberlain, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
The obituary may be seen at www.hickeyfuneralchapel.com.