Amelia Skye

Amelia Rose Skye, 33, of Swiftbird, passed away Friday, September 23, 2022 at her home.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., MDT, Thursday, October 6, 2022, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Episcopal Cemetery, LaPlant. Wake services will be 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at the church, with a procession from the 4-Mile at 4:00 p.m.

Rose was born on March 29, 1989, in Ganado, Arizona, to Dallas “Dee” Skye and Allen Ducheneaux, joining her older brother Joe. Soon after her birth, Rose’s family moved back to South Dakota, where her younger brother Duran joined the family. Eventually settling in Swiftbird, Rose, her brothers Joe and Duran, and cousins Eryka and Jenna grew up with their Granny, Andrea Robideau. Rose was so close to her cousins Eryka and Jenna that they considered themselves sisters. The three girls’ bond was so strong they did everything together, from teaching Rose how to walk and talk, to showing her how to play basketball, a sport she later excelled in.

She went to school at Tiospaye Topa in LaPlant, where she excelled as a student, partaking in the annual Upward Bound Summit in Rapid City. Very energetic, she participated in journalism and photography, played basketball, and ran cross country, where she was the first girl from her school to compete at the state meet. She was a great writer and was chosen to go to Native American youth journalism conferences in the Black Hills. She took great pride in her Native American heritage. As a proud grassroots Indian, being raised around her culture inspired her to learn traditional powwow dancing. She followed the powwow trail and earned many awards for her talent along the way.

In 2006 Rose was overjoyed to give birth to her first daughter, Tipi Luta. She was so happy to be her mom, and proudly graduated high school later that year. Rose was nomadic, adventurous, and fearless. For the next few years, Rose, Tipi, and Eryka shared many wild and crazy adventures together throughout the state, eventually landing in Aberdeen where they spent treasured time with her mother Dee, and her aunt Karla. Eventually moving back to her home, Rose spent many years working at Bob’s with her aunt Ami. Ten years and one day after having her first daughter, she welcomed her second daughter, Mahpiya Winyan. Rose was glad her girls would have each other since she was so thankful for her bonds with her sisters.

Rose loved her whole family and was always with one of them. She was always by her Granny’s side growing up, and as the years passed, continued to spend time with and care for her. Rose loved her mother Dee and loved that her daughters had her as a grandmother. She cared for her brothers and even as the middle child, she made sure to look out for them and always be there for them. She valued her aunts, and after losing her brother Joe, her aunt Lorie and cousin Sam introduced her to Jesus. Accepting Him as her savior comforted her through the loss of Joe. After this, she began reading the Bible and would send recordings of verses to her “Sissy” Jenna.

Her favorite things were her family, being a proud grassroots Indian, being an aunt to all of her nieces and nephews, spending time at the river, and cruising around listening to powwow music. She was funny, caring, outspoken, and had a beautiful smile. What her family will remember most is the loving mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, auntie, and cousin that she was to all of us. Rose will be greatly missed, but her family knows she will be overjoyed to be reunited with her brother and other loved ones. Rose’s daughters meant everything to her, and the family asks that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Rose will always be remembered and missed by her beloved daughters, Tipi Luta and Mahpiya Winyan; grandmother, Andrea Robideau; mother, Dallas Skye; dad, Allen Ducheneaux and many Ducheneaux relatives; brothers, Duran American Horse and Ica Ducheneaux; uncles, Tom Skye and family, Roland “Sudsey” Fielder, and Talley Speker; aunts, Lisa Skye, Ami Robideau, and Lori Falahola and family; sisters, Eryka Skye and Jenna Bowker; cousins: Randy Shaving, Samantha LeBeau, Shilo Hill, Anthony LeBeau, Gabrielle LeBeau, Keya Ducheneaux; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death is her maternal grandfather, Tom Skye; paternal grandparents, Bud and Pauline Ducheneaux; brother, Joe Skye; aunt, Karla Kingman; uncle, Robby Robideau; and cousin, Mariah LeBeau.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Amelia’s arrangements.