Lakota Country Times

The Holy Road
Nathaniel “Nate” Witt, Jr.

PINE RIDGE — Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Witt, Jr., 82, died Dec. 4, at Pine Ridge of natural causes. He was a veteran of the United State Army.

He is survived by his wife Eva Witt of Pine Ridge; sons Jhon Duane Goes In Center, Rapid City; Christopher Witt, Pine Ridge; daughters Deborah Bordeaux and Angie Stover of Pine Ridge; Geraldine Goes In Center and Nancy Miller of Rapid City; Margaret Witt, Portland, Oreg.; Mary Witt, Seoul, Korea; brothers Lawrence Witt, Tahoka, Texas; Sidney Witt, Pine Ridge; Nelson Witt, Waldport, Ore.; Patrick Witt, Spearfish; Wayne Witt, Oglala; Lyle Witt, Hot Springs; Eugenia Bettelyoun, Wanblee; Floretta Harter, Hot Springs; Sandra Witt, Rapid City; Rebecca Benton, Pine Ridge and 23 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
A prayer and vigil service will be 10 am., Friday, Dec.7 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pine Ridge.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Officiating will be Rev. Steve Sanford, SJ.
Internment will be at Burial with Military Rites will take place at St. Ignatius Catholic cementery.

Patrick Daniel 'Pat' Grooms

DENBY - Patrick Daniel "Pat" Grooms, 76, died at his home in Denby, Nov. 25. He was born Feb. 3, 1931 at Wounded Knee. Patrick was a loving son to Frank and Gonna (Hanson) Grooms. He was a devoted father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and close friend. His family and friends were his life.

He was married to Lily Ann Galligo. Together hey had six children: daughter, Sandra Graff (and grandchildren: Lisa, Derek, and Amber and great grandchildren) of Las Vegas, Nev.; Patrick "Chuck" Grooms, Rapid City; Crystal Grooms (and her six children: Monty, Favian, Benjamin, William, Jessica and Monique and many great grandchildren) of Denby; Son, John Grooms (and his four children: Cassandra, Ashley, Breanna and Alexyss) of Las Vegas, Nev.; daughter, Veronica Theis (and her three children: Heather, Michael and Melissa) of Twin Falls, Idaho; Patricia Grooms of Las Vegas, Nev. who preceded him in death in April of 2007. Patrick had 10 brothers and sisters. He is also survived by his brother, Victor Grooms of Canon City, CO and sister, Martha Woodhouse of Gordon, Neb.; His brothers and sisters that passed away before him were Frank, Mary, Gertrude, Joseph, Aaron, Samuel, Henry, and Davis. May they greet him with open arms.

He married Kay York July 21, 1979. He was the caring stepfather of Wayne York of Benton, Wash.. He grew up a Wounded Knee. He looked like the typical blond haired, blue eyed farm boy in his bib overalls. He attended a one room schoolhouse built by his father Frank there at Wounded Knee.
He was a middle child over the chores and duties of his older brothers Frank and Victor. They left to fight in World War II and he was responsible for helping his parents with the farm and livestock. At the age of 11 he had to do hard work and chores causing him to grow up before his time.
During his military career in the Army and Air Force he made many friends. He was a Korean War veteran as well. Many of the men who served with him were his buddies and friends. He kept in contact with several of them for many years after.

"Pat" was known to his family and friends as an avid joke teller. He kept us all laughing with his jokes and tales. He had a story for every setting. He enjoyed sitting with his company and relaying the daily news and happenings over a cup of coffee. He was a construction worker, ranch hand, mechanic, a good provider of fresh game, and a "damn" good cook. His specialty was delicious fried rabbit and biscuits with gravy. He was a leather craftsman, spur maker, and artist in his later years. He could turn a pair of spurs into a work of art, and a stone into beautiful sculpture with his creative artisitic abilities.

Pat Grooms, Danny Grooms, and Bill Grooms made up a trio of the most notorious "cowpokes" you ever did see. Together they were like something out of a Wild West novel. The stories of their expoits and camaraderie could keep you laughing till your sides hurt. They constantly teased each other with their made-up jokes. They were "Uncle Pat's" nephews and the closest of his companions.

A prayer/vigil service begins at 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7 at Rockyford School, Rockyfor. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday Dec. 8 at Rockyford School with the Rev. Sonya Wilcox officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Madgalene Catholic Cemetery, Rockyford.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge.

Dean L. Richard

PINE RIDGE - Dean L. Richard, 20, Pine Ridge, died Wednesday, Nov. 28 in Pine Ridge. Survivors include his parents, James and Cheryl Richard Sr., Pine Ridge; five brothers, James Richard Jr., Jamie Richard, Jonathan Richard, Alexander Richard and Justis Scott, all of Pine Ridge; six sisters, Emma Richard and Annie Richard, both of Denver, and Edna Richard, Kadell Richard, Dakota Richard and Jackie Richard, all of Pine Ridge.

A one night service was Nov. 30 at Wakpamni CAP office in Wakpamni. Funeral services were Saturday, Dec. 1, at the CAP office, with the Rev. Steve Sanford and the Rev. Abraham Tobacco officiating.

Burial was at Salway Family Cemetery in Allen. Sioux Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Marla Short Horn

KYLE - Marla Short Horn, 38, Kyle, died Friday, Nov. 30 , at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Survivors include one son, Jordan Moccasin, Kyle; her mother, Myrnette Wounded Head, Kyle; three brothers, Larry Short Horn, Denver, and William Short Horn and Victor Short Horn, both of Kyle; and three sisters, Donna Peniska, Sioux Falls, Pearl Hopkins, Kyle, and Veronica Lopez, Omaha, Neb.

A two night wake service Dec. 4 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Hall in Pine Ridge.

Funeral services were. Thursday, Dec. 6, at the hall, with the Rev. Cordelia Red Owl officiating. Burial was at St. Barnabas Episcopal Cemetery in Kyle. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge was in charge of arrangements.

Harriet J. Archambault

BULLHEAD - Harriet June Archambault, 41, Bullhead, died Tuesday, Nov. 27 at her home. Wake services were Monday, Dec. 3, at Rock Creek Grant School in Bullhead. Funeral services were Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Rock Creek Grant School with the Rev. Tony Grossenburg and the Rev. Jim Hoerter officiating.

Burial was at St. John's Episcopal Cemetery in Bullhead. Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge was in charge of arrangements.

Howard Big Eagle

RAPID CITY - Howard Big Eagle, 84, Rapid City, died Thursday, Nov. 22 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He served in the U.S. Air Force. Survivors include three daughters, Beverly Holguin, Bastrup, Texas, Lois Big Eagle, Rapid City, and Ann Stewart, Fort Collins, Colo.; four sons, Artie Big Eagle, Rapid City, Calvin Eagle, Stevie Rey Eagle and Ron Big Eagle, all of Denver; one brother, Maurice Big Eagle, Dupree; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Wake services were Saturday at the community hall in Cherry Creek.

Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 3, at Congregational Church in Cherry Creek. Burial was Dec. 3, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge was in charge of the arrangements.

Neville C. Red Starr Sr.

PINE RIDGE - Neville C. Red Starr Sr., 76, Pine Ridge, died Tuesday, Nov. 27 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He served in the U.S. Army. Survivors include five sons, Neville Red Starr Jr., and Joe Red Starr Sr., both of Pine Ridge, Anson Red Starr, Wolf Creek, Wyman Red Starr, North Carolina, and Thomas Red Starr, Nashville, Tenn.; five daughters, Nellie Bald Eagle, Venus Rodriguez and Sherry Red Starr, all of Pine Ridge, Lina Long, Lincoln, Neb., and Dawn Campbell, Sisseton; 45 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. Wake services were Dec. 2, at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge.

Funeral services were Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the hall, with the Rev. Abraham Tobacco officiating, and traditional Lakota services by Wilmer Mesteth.

Burial was at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Sioux Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Carl B. Fire Thunder-Brown

RAPID CITY - Carl B. Fire Thunder-Brown, 64, Rapid City, died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007, at home. Wake services will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, at Mother Butler Center in Rapid City.

Survivors include four nieces Karen Gabe, Lisa Colhoff, Rose Renville and Lolita Martinez, all of Rapid City; and four nephews, John Colhoff, Ira Colhoff and Tony Colhoff, all of Rapid City, and Ambrose "Butch" Martinez, Potato Creek.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 3, at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Rapid City, with the Rev. David Matzko officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Lawn Memorial Park in Rapid City.

Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City.

Lillian Thunder Hawk

PORCUPINE - Lillian Thunder Hawk, 83, Porcupine, died Tuesday, Nov. 27 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Survivors include three sons, Francis "Chubbs" Thunder Hawk, Porcupine, and Collins Gay and Victor Gay, both of Pine Ridge; three daughters, Arlene Thunder Bull, Rapid City, and Nancy Bush and Myrna Garfield, both of Porcupine; five sisters, Gladys Gay, Kyle, Genevieve Richard, Pine Ridge, Cynthia Thunder Hawk and Bernadette Thunder Hawk, both of Porcupine, and Mary Thunder Hawk, Rapid City; 23 grandchildren; 78 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Wake services were Dec. 1, at the Porcupine CAP Office in Porcupine. Funeral services were Dec. 3, at the CAP office, with the Rev. Chris Collins and the Rev. Cordelia Red Owl officiating, and traditional Lakota services by Wilmer Mesteth.

Burial was at Christ the King Catholic Cemetery in Porcupine. Sioux Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Michael Afraid of Bear

SLIM BUTTES - Michael G. Afraid of Bear, 57, Slim Buttes, died Monday, Nov. 26, in Boise, Idaho. Survivors include two daughters, Loretta Keerins and Michelle Guzman-Afraid of Bear, both of Ontario, Ore.; his mother, Beatrice Weasel Bear, Slim Buttes; three brothers, Fontanelle Afraid of Bear, Aloysius Weasel Bear and Travis Afraid of Bear, all of Slim Buttes; two sisters, Anita Afraid of Bear, Slim Buttes, and Loretta Cook, Chadron, Neb.; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Wake services were Dec. 1, at the Beatrice Weasel Bear residence in Slim Buttes. Native American services were Monday, Dec. 3, at the residence, with the Rev. Burnette Iron Shell officiating.

Burial was at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery in Slim Buttes. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge was in charge of arrangements.