Todd Tellingheusen Bio

Todd’s family has been carving for at least four generations. Todd is an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. His mother Betty Derby is Earl Tellingheusen’s second wife. Todd comes from a large family he has 3 sisters, 1 ½ sister and four ½ brothers. Todd was born and raised here in Pipestone Minnesota with a large extended family. He spent a lot of time hanging with his numerous cousins as he grew up, went to school and lived his entire life here in Pipestone. Todd has four children of his own. His older girls like to carve small items like arrowhead in their spare time.

Todd 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 (early years) or now with Lone Wolf. Todd has made many styles of pipes since the late 70”s when he started carving. Today Todd mainly carves t style or plains style pipe bowls. Some bowls are plain others fancy with square shanks, four winds and additional designs covering the entire pipes length.

Todd starting quarrying at age 11 he was always good at reading the lines in the quartzite. Like most serious carvers Todd has his own small pit at the Pipestone National Monument where he quarries his own stone. Todd does not do as much quarrying these days as age and asthma has slowed him down.