Kermit Wesley Bird Horse

Kermit W. Bird Horse, “Waha Canka Sapa” (Black Shield) 59 of St. Michael, ND died at his home on Friday, November 10, 2006. A Wake Service for Kermit will be held at St. Michael’s Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael on Thursday, November 16, 2006 beginning at 5:00 p.m. and a Prayer Service beginning at 8:00 p.m. with Fr. Paul Ruge and Rev. Reuben G. Schnaidt officiating. The Procession to the Tekakwitha Center will leave the Wal-Mart Parking Lot at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. A Prayer Service will also be held at the Wakpala Community Center, Wakpala, South Dakota on Friday, November 17, 2006 beginning at 5:00. Funeral Services for Kermit will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Wakpala with Rev. Norman Blue Coat, Rev. Leslie Campbell and the Standing Rock Lay Readers officiating. Special Music will be provided by the Sisters In Harmony, Ted Eagle, Running Antelope Singers and Gladys Hawk as organist. Burial will be in the Long Hill Cemetery, rural Wakpala, South Dakota. Serving as Active Casket Bearers for Kermit will be Phillip Bird Horse, Sr., Reno White Dress, Sr., David Lawrence, Leslie White Dress, Vincent Greyhorn, Jr., Ron Yellow, Jr., Reginald Bird Horse, Jr., Wesley Bird Horse, Colleen Bird Horse, Robert Lawrence and Luther Hinton. Honorary Bearers will be: Vincent Greyhorn, Sr., Donald Belgarde, Jr., Chris Johnson, Todd Belgarde, Peter Owlboy, Sr., Richard DuBois, Jr., Kenneth Dunn, Linus End of Horn, Timothy DeMarrias, Richard Howard, Ralph Silk, Ron Yellow Sr., Ted Eagle, William Cadotte, Jubal Mellette Sr., Lionel Iron Moccasin, Clyde Walking Elk, Sr., Dana Anderson and Robert End of Horn. Kermit Wesley Bird Horse was born on November 22, 1946 in Wakpala, South Dakota. He was the youngest of seven children born to Robert and Alice (Flexible) Bird Horse. He attended the Wakpala Public School from the 1st grade to 12th grade, graduating in 1967. In 1968, he traveled to Oakland, California where he found employment. Later after moving home, he completed the heavy equipment operator’s training course through the Standing Rock Indian Action Team Program. He worked for many construction companies building roads on the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Reservations, making this his livelihood, until his retirement. He was also a Wildland Firefighter for several years. In 1982, he was united in marriage to Monica Owlboy and from this union was born one son and two daughters. They divorced in 1996. In 1998, he married Jackie Yankton and this marriage ended in divorce in 1999. Thereafter, Kermit resided with his older sister, Belva Greyhorn and family over the years until his untimely death. Kermit was known as “Uncle” not only by his nieces and nephews but by all his many good friends. He was quiet, friendly, hard working, had a good sense of humor, was young at heart and always treated people with respect. We will love and miss him the rest of our lives, from his son, daughters, grandchildren, sisters, brother-in-law, nephews, nieces, great nieces and nephews, cousins and all the many people whose hearts he touched. Kermit is survived by his Son, Wesley Kermit Bird Horse Daughters: Kami Kay Bird Horse Kelli Ann Bird Horse all of St. Michael Step-Daughter: Erica (Lance) Young, Fort Totten Grandchildren: Princeton Ironroad-Philbrick, Hansome Bird Horse, Wesley Bird Horse Jr. and Kaylynnzah Ann Bird Horse. Sisters: Belva (Vincent) Greyhorn of St. Michael Roberta Yellow of Bismarck Numerous Nieces, Nephews, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Alice Bird Horse; three brothers, Reginald Bird Horse, Sr., Dallas Bird Horse and Carl Bird Horse; sister, Delphine Bird Horse; granddaughter, Kayonica Lee Bird Horse; special nephew, Lynn Douglas Lawrence Jr.; nieces, Valerie Bird Horse and Kay Bird Horse. Friends may sign the online register book at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com Oster Funeral Home, Mobridge, South Dakota and Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake in charge of arrangements.