Recently he worked and lived in Broadwater, Nebraska Tatanka was born as Jessee Travis Rouse, on May 7, 1953, the son of George and Agnes (Blain) Rouse, a native of Oshkosh, Nebraska, where he attended Garden County schools. In later years Travis changed his name to Tatanka. In addition to his parents, Tatanka was preceded in death by his sister-in-law Susan (Fetters) Rouse, niece Lexie Wakan LaMere, brother- in-law Frank LaMere, and nephew Andrew James (AJ) Sungila Hensley.

Survivors include his fiance Sherri Maresch, and his siblings: Gerald (Victorya) Rouse, 1SGT U.S. Army Retired George A. (Gayle) Rouse, Mrs. Cynthia LaMere, Ilona (Monte) Anderson, Jason Rouse, Onis (Deb Bartu) Rouse, Ellis Rouse and Rhonda Fulton; numerous nieces and nephews, friends and extended family.