Todd Tellinghuisen, Wahpeton Sioux

 

Todd Tellinghuisen, who passed away in 2008, was an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. Todd was born and raised in Pipestone, Minnesota, and started carving when he was 12 years old. He had many teachers starting with his mother and later aunts and uncles teaching him what he would need to know. His pipes are signed either with TT, his initials, or with Lone Wolf. Todd has made many styles of pipes since the late 70s when he started carving.

 

Todd starting quarrying at age 12 and was always good at reading the lines in the quartzite. Like most serious carvers Todd had his own small pit at the Pipestone National Monument.

 

Todd passed away in 2008. He is missed in our small town by all who knew him.  Todd helped his sister Pam Tellinghuisen learn to carve pipestone, and she now makes small pipes and effigies.