Robert "Bobby" Whitelight, 52, died January 13, 2014. He was born January 31, 1961 in Rapid City, SD, the son of Arnita Short Bear Swanson. He grew up in Sturgis and Ft. Thompson, S.D., moving to Hutchinson in 1989. He was a welder for Superior Boiler. He was a tribal member of Crow Creek Reservation, S.D. He married Cindy Smith on January 15, 2010. She survives.
Other survivors include his mother, Arnita Swanson, Atwater, CA, a daughter, Janeane and husband Matthew Ratley, Hutchinson, a son, Nicolas Whitelight, Hutchinson, 2 stepdaughters, Alyssa and husband Jonathan Walden, Hutchinson and Justina Delgado, Wichita, a brother, Jeff Swanson and wife Ann Marie, Ft. Thompson, SD, 3 sisters, Tammy Padron, Porterville, CA, Kelly Swanson, Rapid City, SD, and Dee and husband John Smalling, Hutchinson, KS, several nieces and nephews, and his dog, CoCo.
He was preceded in death by his adopted parents, Willie and Selma Whitelight, a brother, Tony LeVasseur, and his grandfather, William Bow.
Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory, Hutchinson, with Pastor Matt Stafford presiding. Friends may sign the memorial book from 9AM to 9PM Wednesday at the funeral home.