Maryetta Young Bear

Maryetta J. Young Bear, 50, of Eagle Butte, passed away, Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Rapid city Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 12:00 P.M., Friday, February 1, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Red Scaffold with Fr. Matthew Fallgren officiating. Visitation began at 9:00 A.M.

Maryetta Joanne Young Bear was born to and preceded in death by Kenneth Young Bear, of the Knife Clan in Mandaree, ND, and Darlene Young Bear of South Dakota.

Our dear Maryetta Young Bear, known to those close to her as Joanne, was the eldest of five siblings.  She was an angel gifted to Darlene and Kenneth Young Bear on December 16^th, 1962.  She was raised in Eagle Butte, SD with her two brothers, Melvin (Sonny) and David, and her two sisters, Monica and Angela (Angie). She attended Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School and went on to further her education in Business Administration in Florida.  After completing her education she returned home to Eagle Butte, SD. She had held many jobs that included working at the Nutrition Center assisting the elderly and cooking. She very much enjoyed babysitting for her relatives and helping others but what truly brought her the most happiness was raising her handsome son, Scott.

After being at home for a while, she traveled with Scott visiting relatives. They spent a short time in Granbury, Texas staying with her Auntie Lisa. It was then that her health began to slip, and she had to focus more on staying healthy. Although she had to have several hospital visits throughout the years, she still managed to keep enough energy to continue to take care of her sisters, brothers, and son.

In April 2012, Joanne and her family were hit with the terrible news that she had been diagnosed with a disease that shocked everybody. Her preexisting health conditions prevented her from being able to battle this disease with full force.  Even with all of the obstacles placed in her way, she stayed strong for her son Scott, giving him guidance and love. She stayed energetic and active and never let the disease consume her time. Through all of her trials, she stayed courageous and was always smiling, finding happiness in every day. She will continue to smile through us as we continue in our lives with the same courage and passion for life that she always had.

She is survived by four aunts and eight cousins on her mother’s side: Louise Widow, LaVonne Looking Elk, Kay Allison, Rita Hand Boy, Lisa Parish, Buddy Knife, Georgette Gunville, Wendell Knife, Randall Knife, Mary Knife, Kelly Charging Cloud, Barry Charging Cloud, and Jeffery Charging Cloud; one aunt and eight cousins on her father’s side: Sadie Mann, Fern Bull Head, Valerie Bull Head, Cathy StillDay, Frank Bull Head, Trivian Neault, Marva Young Bear, Lynette Boyd and Randy Phelan; two sisters, Monica and Angie Young Bear, and two brothers, Melvin and David Young Bear, as well as her niece Eva and her two nephews Jasper and Justin, and her daughter-in-law June Levin. Her spirit lives on in her son, Scott Young Bear and her Godson, Brandon Hand Boy.

She is preceded in death by her uncle Teddy Knife and her Aunt Viola Charging Cloud and her cousin Dion Knife from her mother’s side and also by her uncle Clifford Young Bear and her two aunts Vivian Bull Head and Cissy Young Bear from her father’s side.

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