Mary Black Bird

Mary Ann (Stover) Black Bird, 75, of Eagle Butte, passed away Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, MN.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. MDT, Friday, September 12, 2025, at Our Lady of Sorrows, Kyle. Burial will follow in the Stover Family Cemetery, Kyle. An all-night wake will be 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the Landmark, Eagle Butte with a procession from dog patch, west of Eagle Butte at 3:00 p.m.

She was born on August 26, 1950, in Hot Springs to Oliver and Evelyn (Hungry) Stover. She was the first born of seven siblings, three brothers and four sisters. Mary was so cherished that it was told that for the first year her feet never touched the ground. She attended elementary school in Allen, Loneman Day School, Our Lady of Lourdes and high school at Oglala Community School in Pine Ridge as well as Holy Rosary. She obtained her GED and later attended USD and OLC.

On April 4, 1967, Mary welcomed her daughter, Becky, and shared raising her with her parents and siblings. Mary and Becky were alike in many ways, especially in their shared commitment to the Lakota way of life and the Sundance circle. When Mary danced her first year, Becky danced beside her, having danced for several years before and wanting to support her mom.

Mary experienced several chapters in her life before finding lasting love with Ronnie Black Bird, whom she met at a powwow in Rapid in 1989 when he helped fix a flat tire. They built a life together from that moment on and were formally married in 2002, sharing countless adventures, laughter, and devotion through the years.

Mary dedicated her life to serving Tribal families and communities in many roles. She began as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Pine Ridge, later working as a dispatcher for the OST Tribal Police Department and a Family Court Representative. After moving to Cheyenne River, she supported mothers and children through Healthy Start and, as a GED tutor in Eagle Butte, helped achieve a record number of graduates that year. She also worked with the Four Bands Community Fund and trained many childhood care providers through Presentation College. Mary completed her career as Data Coordinator with Tribal Ventures, continuing her lifelong commitment to strengthening families and communities.

Mary and her husband, Ronnie, joined a Cheyenne River group volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Winnipeg, helping build 16 homes in one week. They visited with President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter and helped bring the 1994 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project to Cheyenne River — the first Habitat blitz build on a Native American reservation.

Mary began her spiritual and healing journey in the late 1980s at the Medicine Horse Sundance in Evergreen, South Dakota. From then on, she lived her life according to the Canku Luta and became a loving mentor and teacher to many, especially women and young girls interested in learning the Lakota way of life. In 1993, Mary embraced the role of Sundance leader’s wife, supporting Ronnie’s dream as they dedicated their lives to the Rattling Hail Sundance, giving their time, energy, and hearts for the people. Through the Rattling Hail Sundance, they helped secure a grant that, over the last five years, has supported nearly 40 families in the Pine Ridge, Fort Thompson, Standing Rock, and Cheyenne River communities, providing resources for elders raising their grandchildren.

Mary was humble and genuine, a direct communicator. She had a kind heart, easy laugh and welcoming spirit that made everyone feel at home.

She is survived by her husband, Ronnie Black Bird; her only daughter, Becky Red Bow Covey, Rapid City; three stepchildren, Ron Black Bird Jr. (Krissy) Swiftbird, SD, Daniel Black Bird (Doneen) LaPlant, SD, and Alana Traversie (Daniel) Pierre, SD; grandchildren, Tony Stover, Oliver Covey, Kylie Rose, Jamerson, Ashanti, Daniel Jr., Jace, Lacy, Cecil, Rylan, Ramsey, Rhawni Jo, Bella, Tremaine, Alli and Adonis; great-grandchildren, Audrea Rose, Phoenix, Enzo; brother, James Tim Stover of El Paso, TX; sisters, Bernadette Stover of Hot Springs, SD, Gina Veo (Terry), Donna Stover, and Kathy Stover of Kyle, SD; sister-in-law, Alita Pfeifle, Aurora, MO; nephews: Tim, Jesse, Patrick, Paul, Mike, Jimmy, Jason, Junior, Shane, Sam, Ed, Corey, Clayton, Ezrah, Waylon; nieces: Malita, Naomi, Denise, Jennifer, Annie, Emma, Estee, Nikki, Dedria, McKenzie, Whisper, Tiffany, Chevelle, Shannon, Sonja Ann, Sara, Mariah, Lillian, Gwen; as well as extended family and many hunka relatives.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver W. and Evelyn (Hungry) Stover; paternal grandparents, Edward and Susie (Swallow) Stover and maternal grandmother, Nellie Hungry; brothers, Bill and Russ Stover; nieces: Quintina Stover, Beth Red Feather,  Diane Hawk Eagle, and Cynthia Friedman; nephews: Arlen Stover, James Dawson (JD) Stover, Cody Hamilton, Jaylen Veo, Edward “Numpa” Red Feather, Arvol Jr. White Eyes, Chris Black Bird, and Daryl Hawk Eagle.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg (www.familyfuneralhome.net) and Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge (www.siouxfuneralhome.com) have been entrusted with Mary Ann’s arrangements.