Earlwin Red Bird
February 24, 1927 ~ June 2, 2008
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Earlwin Red Bird, 81, of Eagle Butte, passed away, Monday, June 2, 2008 at the I.H.S. Hospital in Eagle Butte.
Funeral services were held at 11:00a.m. MDT, Monday, June 9, at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Thunder Butte. Burial was in the church cemetery under the direction of Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte. An all night wake service began with services at 6:00p.m., Sunday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte.
Earlwin Tidal Red Bird, Sr. was born February 24, 1927 to William Red Bird and Ellen (Iron Lightning) Red Bird in Iron Lightning, South Dakota, where he grew up. He then established his own ranch, raising cattle and riding horses. He then moved to Thunder Butte where he met Corrine May High Elk. On July 22, 1956 they were united in marriage. They had six children: Carl, Perry, Earleen, Benedict, Earlwin, Jr., Tina and stepson Gerald.
During his lifetime, he and his family moved to various places where he worked as a ranch hand while participating in rodeos as a bareback rider. He then returned to Thunder Butte, to the place he loved and called home.
He started his path following God as a Helper in the church July 1, 1977, became a Lay Reader July 1, 1979, a Catechist July 1, 1982 and then a Senior Catechist June 20, 1997. Though he never retired, he could not continue to go out and do prayers when needed due to his health condition. He still had the faith and love of God until the end.
Earlwin is survived by his wife Corrine High Elk; sons: Carl Red Bird, Earlwin Red Bird, Jr. both of Eagle Butte, SD and Gerald High Elk of Dupree, SD; daughters: Tina Red Bird of Eagle Butte, SD and Earleen Red Bird of Chamberlain, SD; 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents: William Red Bird and Ellen (Iron Lightning) Red Bird; sons: Benedict Red Bird and Perry Kills First; brothers: Charles (Mary) Red Bird, Harold Red Bird and Cyril Red Bird; sisters: Martha (Percy) Marrowbone, Gladys LeClair, Evelyn (Ben) Elk Eagle, Margret Red Bird and Edith Red Bird; 3 grandchildren: Katelyn Poor Thunder, Baby Weston and Nicole High Elk and special niece: Juanita Red Bird Young.
Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with arrangements.
Funeral services were held at 11:00a.m. MDT, Monday, June 9, at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Thunder Butte. Burial was in the church cemetery under the direction of Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte. An all night wake service began with services at 6:00p.m., Sunday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte.
Earlwin Tidal Red Bird, Sr. was born February 24, 1927 to William Red Bird and Ellen (Iron Lightning) Red Bird in Iron Lightning, South Dakota, where he grew up. He then established his own ranch, raising cattle and riding horses. He then moved to Thunder Butte where he met Corrine May High Elk. On July 22, 1956 they were united in marriage. They had six children: Carl, Perry, Earleen, Benedict, Earlwin, Jr., Tina and stepson Gerald.
During his lifetime, he and his family moved to various places where he worked as a ranch hand while participating in rodeos as a bareback rider. He then returned to Thunder Butte, to the place he loved and called home.
He started his path following God as a Helper in the church July 1, 1977, became a Lay Reader July 1, 1979, a Catechist July 1, 1982 and then a Senior Catechist June 20, 1997. Though he never retired, he could not continue to go out and do prayers when needed due to his health condition. He still had the faith and love of God until the end.
Earlwin is survived by his wife Corrine High Elk; sons: Carl Red Bird, Earlwin Red Bird, Jr. both of Eagle Butte, SD and Gerald High Elk of Dupree, SD; daughters: Tina Red Bird of Eagle Butte, SD and Earleen Red Bird of Chamberlain, SD; 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents: William Red Bird and Ellen (Iron Lightning) Red Bird; sons: Benedict Red Bird and Perry Kills First; brothers: Charles (Mary) Red Bird, Harold Red Bird and Cyril Red Bird; sisters: Martha (Percy) Marrowbone, Gladys LeClair, Evelyn (Ben) Elk Eagle, Margret Red Bird and Edith Red Bird; 3 grandchildren: Katelyn Poor Thunder, Baby Weston and Nicole High Elk and special niece: Juanita Red Bird Young.
Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with arrangements.
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My condolences and prayers go out to all of Uncle Earl’s family, friends and relatives. I was deeply saddened to hear about his passing. I’m sure that he is in Heaven now, with his family and friends that have preceded him.
He was a very nice and Godly man. He always greeted me with a nice warm smile, and a very gentle hand shake whenever our paths crossed, when I came home for one reason or another. He always made me feel like he cared for me, and was glad to see me. He was a very good friend of my Dad, Wilbur, and I believe that he was also my God Father. I’ll never forget standing next to him and my Dad, and singing Lakota hymns at the top of my lungs, when I was a small kid growing up in Iron Lightning.
Although I wasn’t present at the services, I have quietly mourned his passing, cherished the memories, and shed my tears in my own solitary way.
His caring and contributions to his family, friends and people, will surely be missed. His involvement in the Episcopal Church, and the role model, of a humble servant of the Lord, is one that we all need to remember and learn from, and to never forget how he has touched many of us, in our lives, in one way or another.
I love you Uncle Earl, and I will miss you, thank you for your love, and May God Bless you and your family.