Narcelle Widow

Narcelle Widow, 61, of Ash Creek, SD, passed away Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., MDT, Thursday, October 20, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Eagle Butte, with Brother Robert Adair and Brother Ken White Bull presiding. Burial followed in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Red Scaffold. A wake service was held at 7:00 p.m., MDT, Wednesday, October 19, at the church, with a procession from the four mile at 5:00 p.m.

Narcelle Charlene Widow began her earthly journey on February 21, 1955 as the first born daughter to Delma Counting and Edward Widow.

She was adored by her paternal grandfather, Lala Paul and her maternal grandparents, Lala Jim and Sara Brown Dog. She was blessed to have wonderful grandparents who helped raise her.

Being the oldest to several brothers and sisters required a lot of patience and tolerance. She did it, she safe guarded them throughout their lives.

One of her greatest memories is helping her mom with the twin boys. She sacrificed one school year because she helped raise the twins. Since that time, she has continually given all she could to those two boys.

Her kind and generous nature; and being the responsible one earned her the nickname “Honorable” in the dorms where she stayed for the high school years.

Early on, she worked at various summer jobs and attended Upward Bound. The twin, Edwin, offered to go with her in her suit case and stay in her dorm room, so they wouldn’t miss one another.

One of her favorite vocations was working as an elderly aide for a tribal program. She would cook, bake bread, and clean the residence of several elderly in the area around Red Scaffold.

Because of the standards she set for herself, she remained alcohol and drug free, which allowed her to be an alcohol and drug free counselor for the Tribal Alcohol Treatment program. She successfully operated a recreation center in the Cherry Creek community, where she made a positive impact on the youth that needed guidance.

It was around this time, that the family became members of the LDS Church. This was a glorious time; the family were all baptized.

She was a primary teacher of the LDS Church. Many youth members of the LDS Church gained their eagle feather certificate.

This is where she began to love the teachings and began planning to prepare for the mission she served. She received her mission calling in 1983, where she served the mission in Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Canada for 18 months.

Her parents were, as expected, very proud of her, and supported her in every way. They had an honoring, where she received her Lakota name, which came from her grandmother.

After her mission, she left home again to attend college at the BYU- Hawaii campus. This was the best time of her life. She made many friends and enjoyed all the adventures of living in Hawaii. She worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and enjoyed meeting all the people. She would reminiscence about the time, and had her heart set on returning due to a medical situation that required surgery so she had to return home.

It was always her dream to become a teacher, so she joined the teacher corps that was offered at Eagle Butte for a time. She attended college in Utah also. She lived with the families of returned missionaries who had adopted our family. Those returned missionaries would invite Narcelle and her mom to stay with them, by flying them out there. They visited in Hawaii several times, and in California and Utah. For Norris graduation, they took him and his cousin, Randall to Hawaii, where they played in a basketball tournament. She enjoyed that trip so much she would remember this trip to Hawaii the most.

Narcelle continued to pursue her degree to become a teacher. She began working at the Red Scaffold school with Peggy Knife, and Lillian White Wolf. These times spent with these ladies were a lasting memory for her. She had many stories of the adventures they shared. She started working at the C-EB school system, first in High School, then Junior High, follow by Primary School and finished in Junior High where she retired from. There were countless hours she spent preparing lesson plans and correcting papers. She drove thousands of miles from driving every day, five days a week, through rain, mud and snow to get to work. Her dedication to the job she loved was unwavering. She commented, “those cars that pass me up better not wreck, I can’t remember my CPR training”, her humor was always evident.

We were together as a family, and having discussions on various topics. She said in Lakota, “When I die, don't kill a cow, every time someone dies, they kill a cow. I don't want to go with a cow!” It was funny to us, but we all got scolded by our mother for talking about stuff like that.

Narcelle is described as a kind, generous person, who helped many students learn and grow. She made such an impact on their lives that they remember her fondly for helping them navigate through difficult times of their lives.

As a sister, we depended on her wise words, which at times were said to remind us of the teachings of our parents, and grandparents. Her greatest gift was her memory and her ability to connect people on how they were related. She completed our family history through genealogy.

As a daughter, she gave everything she could to help her parents with all they needed. She taught us to share what we have with our parents, to honor them, always.

As an auntie, she shared stories and history more valuable than money. What she gave came from the heart. She loved these nieces and nephews. She was the only one they went to for help, for safety, for comfort.

As a friend and relative, she was patient, kind, and caring. She gave her time and energy to help where it was needed.

As a granddaughter, she taught the lessons to her siblings who missed the opportunity to have grandparents. She taught values and instilled character.

Her strength was enormous; her perseverance was immense. She overcame her battle with cancer, many times driving herself and her niece, Bernadine Oakie, as a companion. She refused to let the cancer beat her.

Her faith was strong and enduring. She relied on this countless times to get her home safely. Her sister recalls one time the car kept stopping and stalling. She told her sister to open the hood, as she did, Narcelle, placed her hand on the carburetor, so her sister was impressed and remarked how proud she was that someone taught her to fix her car, because the car never stalled out again. Narcelle laughed and said she just prayed over it.

Narcelle is survived by her father, Edward Widow of Ash Creek; brother, Norris John of Ash Creek and his children, Jerica, Rudee, Sarah, Nate, Tate, and Jarae, Payden Drew, Andee Sue, and Junior Widow; six grandchildren: Mya, Jay, Noah, Caylor, Lupe and Bella; brother, Edmund (Sarah) Widow of Murfreesboro, TN and his twin, Edwin Widow, of Ash Creek, and his two daughters, Adrienne and Camille Widow; sister, Nadine Widow of Takini, SD and her children, Tiffany (Carlin Mellette), Tahnee, Talon Jay Edward, Taitlyn, Tamaori, and Tiarah Shaving and the two granddaughters, Colbie and Dylan Mellette; nieces, Roxie, RaDawn, Deeann, Heidi, and nephews, Derek, Paul, Jauron, Duriel, Chastyn, and Kelly, and thirty eight grandchildren from (Narcisse): nephews: Ian Cook (Angela) and his children, Wally, Hailey, Isaac, and Malachi. Keaton Widow (Mya) and his son, Theotis Edmund; special niece she cared for and had the opportunity to raise as her own: Kailey Carter.

Narcelle was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Paul, and Agnes (Talks) Widow; her maternal grandparents: Dennis Dog Eagle, James and Sarah (Counting) Brown Dog; brothers, Narcisse, and Nordvold; sister, Norma and her dearest mother, Delma B. Widow.

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with Narcelle’s arrangements.