Vernon Wayne Grinnell Jr. “L'il Vern" was born on November 23, 1989 in Gordon, Nebraska, to Vernon Grinnell Sr. and Jo Ann (Blackweasel) Grinnell. He made his journey away on July 12, 2024 at Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Vernon Jr. is survived by his parents, Vernon Sr. and JoAnn; his sister, Shelly Grinnell (Aubrey Two Elk, her significant other)and her sons, Mario and Andre Grinnell and hunka son, Justin Two Elk; hunka sister, Lisa Adams; Erik Grinnell and family; uncle Michael Graham; his aunts, Theodora Weatherwax, Clarine Pockineau, Eileen Grinnell, Norma Tibbitts and hunka aunt, "Auntie" Marlene Ducheneaux; cousins Sean Means and his wife, Ruth; Mario Graham and his wife, Sandy; James Adams and his significant other, Melaine Wilson; Melvin Adams (Lisa Adams' husband); Thomas, Theodore, Lillian, and Sonia Blackweasel; Sara Graham; Jessica Graham, Lisa Woodford and her husband Gary. "Dino" Woodford Jr., Lacretia Heavy Runner and her husband, Shane Heavy Runner; Kaylee Weatherwax; Lacey Carlson; grandmother, Doreen Blackweasel; and all of his North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana relatives.

L'il Vern loved to travel all around the United States with his dad and uncle Fred Grinnell Jr., skateboard, play his guitar, dance, sing and spend time with family and friends. He had the ultimate outgoing personality, and his spark of life and smile could light up a room. He loved to joke around and tease people. He was a generous man who would help anyone he could with whatever he could. He was talented at whatever he put his mind to doing. He held a wide diversity of jobs which he also loved doing. It would be fair to say, he loved life and lived it to its fullest, including a love of making grilled cheese and cheeseburgers for his parents. He will be sorely missed.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jamie Graham and Jarrett Big Crow; sisters, Marilyn Eagle Elk and Elena Grinnell; maternal grandparents, Margaret P. Yellow Thunder­Blackweasel and Thomas Blackweasel; maternal great grandparents, Theodore and Theresa Two­Two (Means); paternal grandparents, Fred Grinnell Sr. and Minnie (Red Kettle) Grinnell; great grandparents, Chester and Jessie Red Kettle; Mattie and Charlie Grinnell; uncles, Fred Grinnell Jr., Kenneth Weatherwax, Dennis Grinnell, Adrian Grinnell, Robert and Leonard Means, Clayton Graham, Marvin and Clement Blackweasel; and aunts, Barbara Means, and Ramona and Anita Blackweasel.