Sherlynn Herrera

Sherlynn Herrera, 56, of Eagle Butte, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. MST, Thursday, January 9, 2020 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial followed in St. Peter’s Episcopal Cemetery, Thunder Butte, SD. A wake service was held at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at the church, with a procession from the 4-mile corner east of town at 4:00 p.m.

Sherlynn Herrera was born July 21, 1963 at Eagle Butte IHS to Louella “Marie” (Slides Off) Brave Heart and Ladislado C. Herrera. They parted ways. Sherlynn, her sister Murphy, and her mother, who was part of a BIA Native American Women’s Education Program, moved around when she was younger. They lived in Denver, Colorado and San Diego, California where her mother went to school and worked. Then they moved to Thunder Butte, SD. When her mother met Christopher Brave Heart Sr. and married him, she gained a stepfather who became her loving dad. She lived there with her family for many years in her own home watching her children grow up. They attended church functions at St. John’s Episcopal Church where all her children were baptized. She was always involved in community activities. 

She graduated with her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Si Tanka College while working for the Tribal Daycare Center in Eagle Butte. She loved her coworkers and all the daycare kids who attended while she worked there. Later, she moved to Eagle Butte permanently with her three younger children. 

In 2015 she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Oglala Lakota College also working full-time after moving on from the Daycare Center. She worked for Dupree School, CRST Property & Supply, Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Health Board, Indian Health Services, and lastly the Four Bands Program as a Suicide Prevention Specialist. She loved working with people. She made many friends working, traveling to workshops, and conferences. She didn’t see it as work, but opportunities to educate our people. That’s the kind of person she was. 

She took great care of her children and grandchildren. She especially made sure her dad, Chris, was fed, driven to church, and had everything he needed. She loved her dad very much and always made sure he was taken care of. She attended every birthday, every sporting event, every family member’s graduation, and every church meeting that she could. She always made our birthdays extra special by having a big family dinner. 

Sherlynn received her lay reader certification with the Episcopal Church Diocese, she also worked tirelessly fundraising for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and for the many Tribal Programs she worked for to better our community. Not a lot of people knew how sick she was because she kept going and working hard until the last time she became ill. Her children stayed by her side throughout her whole hospital stay. They took turns staying with her, and they made sure she was never alone. Many family members went to visit her in the hospital and prayed for her. Her Aunties Adrienne and Ione, Uncle Jack, cousins Denise and Raine, and niece Vida. She had many people stop by or reach out to give their love and support. 

Sherlynn raised her grandson, Dredyn Tyler. You could always see her going around with him and other grandkids who were around. She was beloved by them all and did everything and anything for them. She will be greatly missed by her entire family. 

Her passing left us with a giant hole in our hearts. She was such a big piece of our lives that it may almost be impossible to go on. She worked hard and her faith was in God, and we hope to find the strength to follow in her footsteps. She is now with her mom, our “Unci” (Grandma Marie) whom she missed and was still mourning for. 

Mom, we love you always and forever with all our hearts - your babies, grand babies, and family. We’ll miss you every day.

Sherlynn is survived by her stepfather, “Dad” Christopher Brave Heart Sr.; father of children, Ricky DeHorse; daughter, Erika (Sam) Prairie Chicken of Rapid City, Corey DeHorse (Nicolette Iron Hawk) of Rapid City, Misty DeHorse (Jorja B. Cavanaugh) and Jacie DeHorse (Dre’dyn DeHorse); sister, Murphy Herrera; nephew, Taten Brown; three nieces: Brandee Herrera, Tahnee Herrera, and Taliyah “Jo” Jamisen; and 17 grandchildren whom she loved dearly: her “baby” Dredyn Tyler DeHorse, Daeson, Jacobe, and Carter Prairie Chicken, Jorja B. Cavanaugh, Jordyn and Markus DeHorse, Landon, Cayden, Tayah, and Jaelyn Bad Warrior, Aiden Brandenburger, Sajaida, Noelani Herrera, Kylee and Taygen Whirlwind Horse and Cambry Jamisen.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Louella “Marie” Brave Heart; biological father, Ladislado Herrera; grandmother, Elsie (Clown) and grandfather, Owen Slides Off.

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