Norris Widow

Norris Widow, 51, of Red Scaffold, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at IHS Hospital, Eagle Butte.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. MDT, Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at Takini School, Takini, SD, with Deacon Harold Condon, President Robert Adair, and Rev, Byron Buffalo presiding. Burial will follow in St. Mark’s Cemetery, rural Red Scaffold. Wake services will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at the school, with a procession from two mile west of Eagle Butte at 4:00 p.m.

This is the life story of a kind and gentle soul who came to earth to make us smile, laugh, and share our burdens.

From the beginning, he struggled to remain here on earth. He decided to stay, his life became precious, and he was our greatest treasure.

Growing up along Ash Creek, he was adventurous in every way, with his cousins. Especially the Cook boys, who his dad nicknamed sheep herders, Benny and Dana.

Norris and his cousins loved horses, and played rodeo at the old corrals where there was a chute. They flanked this big black horse to ride out of that chute. He also built bucking barrels that were a great source of enjoyment. When he traveled to the rodeos with his dad, he collected the rodeo programs, and always had to check out the food venue at the stands. Norris had a tablet full of bucking horse names, along with riding equipment, riggin, chaps, spurs, halters, and a rodeo bag that no one was allowed to touch. He was already a stock contractor and a horse dealer back then. He shared a special bond with his dad when it came to the horse herds.

Norris had an athletic talent to play sports, beginning with football on a grassy knoll in the creek, to baseball fields, and a dirt basketball court with a homemade basketball goal. During his junior high years, his basketball team dominated the annual YMCA tournament in Rapid City, with his cousins Randall, Wendall, Veldon, Huey, Bobby, Joe, and Doug Jr. He also was on the team at Dupree School that earned a berth to the State B’s, only the second time in history. Thirty years later, his twin sons, Nate and Tate, would also earn that coveted berth to the best of eight in the state. He was elated at this fact. The announcer at the State B Tournament quoted, “The last time Dupree Tigers went to the State B Boys’ Basketball Tournament was in the early 1980’s when Nate and Tate’s father played for Dupree.” In college at Huron, he also played basketball, earning a trip to the NAIA National tournament. He often told the story of watching the coach’s young son, who was the ball boy, grow up to make a career for himself, and how he was tragically killed so young. After college, he traveled to independent basketball tournaments over the years, eventually to Fort Hall, Idaho, where the team he went with won the tournament. He had played many awesome games worthy of a trophy.

In 1987, Norris met Belinda Littleton. They lived in Pierre with his sister, Norma, and then moved back to Red Scaffold where they made their home. Norris’ greatest achievement was becoming a father, first to six – four beautiful daughters and a set of twin sons. Jerica Agnes, Rudy Mae, Jalynn Sara, Nate Henry, Tate Randy, and Jarae Ashlyn. He worked hard and was devoted to his children. He spoke of them fondly, and would relate the things they did. He was proud of all of them. He became a grandfather, with joy and elation. It was a wonderful time for him when his children invited him to birthday dinners or cookouts. He truly loved his children and grandchildren.

Anywhere his twin sons played, he was right there, marveling at their athletic talent to play the game he loved the most. He relied on his daughter, Jerica, to help him with the things he needed, and errands that needed to get done. He would light up and smile when he saw Sara coming towards him, and when Rudy would come home, or when Jarae would come to visit or help him. He often talked about his grandchildren and their ability to make him smile.

Norris was a great father, and a father figure to his nieces and nephews, who in turn adored his humor and teasing, and listened to his advice.

Norris worked various places throughout his life, Security at Red Scaffold School, Century Manufacturing Company in Pierre, P.E. Teacher Assistant at Takini School, Girl’s High School Basketball Coach at Takini School, Sanitary Landfill for CRST, and as a Custodian at Takini School. Norris was a dedicated employee at Takini School. He loved the years he worked there. He was instrumental in coaching many kids who continued to look up to him, years after. His coaching career was another fond memory for him. He enjoyed working with Hank and Donna Taken Alive.

It was during this time that he gained two more hunka sisters, Dolly Knife and Kim White Wolf. He rarely missed a Mother’s Day to call them and wish them the best. He adored their kids and grandchildren. He treated them affectionately as if they were his own.

Change occurs and life moves on. He went to work at CRST Sanitary Landfill, driving every day to Eagle Butte. He often spoke kindly of his co-workers, especially the times of laughter and humor. A story was related by a former co-worker, about the many good times they had. He enjoyed working there.

He would ride to work with his sister, Narcelle. She remarked how fast they got to Eagle Butte, where she would just close her eyes to sleep, rather than watch.

He had become a godfather to Randon and Brandon Clown, who he used to babysit.

He became a father again to Payden Cash, Andee Sue, and Norris Jr. He used to tease his older brother, Narcisse about the amount of kids he had, and now he had the same amount.

He was equally fond of these three younger ones, and would bring them often to the house out in the country. He left these three behind, yet he made preparations for them prior to his passing.

Norris got along with his brothers-in-law and teased them a lot. He enjoyed their humor and laughter, especially during family gatherings.

In 2016, Norris was diagnosed with cancer and began staying at the Medicine Wheel Village. His children and other relatives would all take turns taking him to his various medical appointments. He spent a lot of time with his children while he was in the Rapid City Regional Hospital, his children will miss him dearly.

There is much more to his life story, as it was a great one. In all that he endured, he continued to smile, laugh and tease those who visited him.

The heartache of losing him will always be felt by his children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, and especially his dad. The life that Norris lived on earth can be summarized in the following quote by Neale Donald Walsch, “You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in the time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in the time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life, you have known yourself as these things.”

Norris leaves behind his father, Edward; sister, Nadine (Tom); twin brothers, Edmund (Sarah) and Edwin; children: Jerica (Cambryn) Rivers, Eagle Butte, Rudy (Adan) Guerra, Dallas, TX, Jalynn Sara Widow, Eagle Butte, Jarae Widow, Eagle Butte, Nate (Elizabeth Blair Seramur) Widow, LaCrosse, WI, Tate Widow, Eagle Butte; wife, Nancy of Cherry Creek; children: Payden, Andee, and Norris Jr.; grandchildren: Mya Cloud Eagle, Jay Cloud Eagle, Noah Cloud Eagle, Bella Buckley, Caylor Rivers, Lupe Guerra, Adan Guerra III, and two more expected in May and October; and nieces, nephews and their children.

He is joined in the Spirit World with his mother, Delma; brothers, Narasse and Nordvold; sisters, Narcelle and Norma; paternal grandparents, Paul and Agnes Widow; maternal grandparents, Jim and Sarah Brown Dog and Dennis Dog Eagle; several nieces and nephews; and his brother’s grandchildren.

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