Cora Marshall

Funeral services were held at  9:00 a.m, MDT, Monday, June 21, 2010 at the Old Agency Building in Eagle Butte with Fr. Les Campbell, Rev. Norman Blue Coat, Sister Addie Morris and Danny LaPlante officiating. Burial was held at Black Hills National Cemetery at Sturgis. An all night wake began with a procession at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 20, 2010 at the 4-mile east of town and 6:00 p.m. services.

Cora Mae Blue Coat-Marshall was born February 8, 1922 to Robert and Lillian (Horse with Horns) Blue Coat at her grandparents, Joseph and Carrie Horse with Horns home in White Horse, South Dakota. Throughout her long prosperous life she has enjoyed many things and greatly loved her family. She was a sister, aunt, grandma and the “General” to many.

Cora or “Mae” as everyone called her graduated from Old Agency High School in 1942. Shortly after, she moved to Rapid City. On April 18, 1944 Mae enlisted in the United States Army, proudly serving her country in the WAC Detachment 2 Air Corp. She received the American Theatre Campaign Medal and the Victory Medal. Her honorable discharge was given on November 30, 1945. At this time she moved to West Memphis, Ark. Where she worked as a housekeeper until she returned to South Dakota in 1947 where she began her family. Here she made her home and worked at various jobs from being a welder to clerical work, proudly stating that she was a “Jack of all trades”. Mae then attended and graduated from the Pierre School of Practical Nursing on March 13, 1958 after which she began a long career as a civil servant where she was employed as a LPN at the Sioux San Hospital in Rapid City, SD from 1959 to 1975 and Indian Health Services in Eagle Butte from 1974 until her retirement on February 8, 1990.

On June 14, 2010 upon her passing Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe lost a respected elder and veteran and her family lost their beloved “Matriarch” as she cared for many of her family members, including raising a number of her grandchildren.

Cora is survived by her children: Gayle Dupris and Roland Miner, Jr. both of Eagle Butte; sisters: Ann, Eleanor “Rose” and Margie Blue Coat all of Eagle Butte; brothers: Joe and Norman Blue Coat of On The Tree; grandchildren: Justin and Merrilee Holy, Trudell Iron Wing, Chris, Walter, and Marlene Miner, Carl and Rich Cadotte, Rich, Gayle, and Jody Lofton, Kenny Eagle Chasing, Jeremy Lofton, Robert “Blue” Lofton, Jr., Stephanie and Kristina Lofton, Chasity, Charity, Natasha, Lorraine and Kevin Miner, Roland Miner III, Cheyenne, Dillon, Devin, Sharon, and Gary Miner, Brandon and Thomas Jackson, Richard Miner and Makayla Jackson; 58 great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Robert and Lillian Blue Coat; brothers: Archie and Jerry Blue Coat; sisters: Alberta Hawk Eagle and Ruby Red Dog; children: Robert Lofton Sr., Alfred “JB” Lofton Jr., Dean Lofton, Gary Miner and Sharon Miner; grandsons: Shawn Lofton, Dean Miner, John James Miner and Lee Martin Holy and great grandson, Baby Jay Clark.

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