Darwin Lewis Whiteman

Darwin Lewis “Yogi” Whiteman was born July 31,1961 in Cortez, CO to Jerry Whiteman of Hammon, OK and Mary Ann Whiteman of Towaoc, CO. He passed away peacefully in Durango, CO on April 14, 2021 at the age of 59. Darwin was an enrolled member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and was also half Southern Cheyenne. He graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1979. In 1980, he joined the LDS Church and went on a mission to Keams Canyon.
In 1983 Darwin married his life-long partner Darlene M. Whiteman (Foster) at the LDS Church in Cortez. He started working with the Ute Mountain Tribe in the Food Distribution and then transferred to Planning/Energy. In 1986, Darwin became a father when Brittney D. Whiteman was born. In the early 1990’s he started working for La Plata Mine as an Oiler. There he made lifelong friendships and enjoyed his work for many years. In 1992 he became a Gaming Commissioner for the Ute Mountain Tribe. He sat on the commission for over 22 years and made many friends in the Indian Gaming world. June 24, 1994 Braxton Whiteman was born to the family. In 2001 he came back to work for the Tribe and started managing the Ute Mountain Travel Center. He received the Economic Development of the Year award as the General Manager of the TC. In 2016, he started working for Bow and Arrow Enterprises in Sales. He always was a very hard-working man and has worked all these years and always enjoyed his jobs.
Darwin loved being a husband, father, grandpa, brother, nephew, and friend. He loved his family and loved making people laugh. Every time you would cross paths with him, he always had that smile on his face and he also made sure to leave you with a good laugh or smile. He loved his traditional way of life. He Sundanced for over 30 years. He was a member of the Native American Church. He always enjoyed taking part in community events and loved Bear Dancing. Anytime he saw someone he knew he had to stop and talk. He loved being a father and grandpa. He loved playing sports throughout his life, basketball, softball, golf and bowling to name a few. He also loved supporting his kids, nephews, nieces, and grandkids at sporting and school events. He was a simple man who enjoyed life and always lived life to the fullest.
Surviving Darwin are his wife, Darlene M. Whiteman of Towaoc, CO; his children, Brittney Whiteman (Joshua Dodge) of Towaoc, CO, Braxton Whiteman of Towaoc, CO, and Sheldon Johnson (Shay) of Salt Lake City, UT; his siblings, Dewayne Whiteman (Nora) of Towaoc, CO, Terri Whiteman (Lonnie) of Towaoc, CO, Nancy Hart (Phillip) of Towaoc, CO, Shannon Whiteman of Towaoc, CO, Darwin Whiteman Jr. (Sapphira) of Towaoc, CO, Dennis Whiteman of Hammon, OK, Clarence Whiteman of Towaoc, CO, Fredrick Whiteman of Towaoc, CO, and Roybal Whiteman of Towaoc, CO; his grandchild, Nahkohe Dodge of Towaoc, CO; his nieces, Destiny Whiteman of Towaoc, CO, and Sherrell Lang (Cedric) of Towaoc, CO; and by his nephew, Waylon Whiteman. Darwin was preceded in death by his parents.