Funeral services for Clark C. Zephier, 86, of Fort Thompson, SD will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Crow Creek Tribal Gym in Fort Thompson, SD with burial in the Zephier Family Plot at Bad Nation, SD.  Wake services will be 7:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday at the Crow Creek Tribal Gym in Fort Thompson, SD.

Anyone wishing to follow, the procession will leave at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday from the funeral home.

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Clark Clifford Zephier "Zintkala To Itancan" born July 6th, 1938 at Old Fort Thompson Hospital to Nephie Zephier and Marion Councillor-Buck.

Clark attended school at Lower Brule Day School 1st-4th grade and also Old Fort Thompson School 5th-7th grade, where he lived in the dorms even during summer and winter. Clark moved to the Old Cheyenne Agency with his family and finished high school in 1956.

At the age of 17 he entered the US Navy in 1956 and was honorable discharged in July of 1959. After returning home his grandma had seen him in his uniform and that is how he got his Lakota Name "Blue Bird- Zintkala To". Clark became an alcoholic while serving in the Navy, that lifestyle ended in 1975. This past January 2025 he was sober for 50 years which he was greatly honored for this accomplishment.

Clark worked as a night watchman at the Lower Brule halfway house, he moved to Sioux Falls in 1978 and worked as an Indian Offender Coordinator, he later moved home and worked as the Director of Lower Brule Alcohol Program for ten years, and also worked as the director of the Crow Creek Alcohol Program. In 1987 he began working as a mental health counselor at the Fort Thompson IHS and retired in 2003.

June of 1993 alongside his wife and others he founded Bad Nation Sundance, which happens annually. In 2009 on his home reservation Ihanktowan Oyate, he became a leadership chief receiving his eagle feather headdress.

Clark enjoyed Powwows and became a Champion Golden Age Traditional Dancer. His twin sons are champion singers with the Bad Nation Drum. He was a hunka father, uncle, brother, grandfather to many that he met along the powwow trail.

On March 19th 1977 he married the love of his life and lifelong companion Pauline Harrison, to this union the twins Darrell and Gerald were born on June 14th 1978, he is also the father to Marcia Wells, Marion Delgado, Craig Zephier, Stephanie Zephier. Clark was a grandpa and great grandpa to numerous grandchildren.

Clark enjoyed Gambling at the local casinos as well as watching the Crow Creek Chieftain Basketball Team. Recently he switched NFL Teams from the Minnesota Vikings to the Kansas City Chiefs. He also enjoyed washing laundry and checking the mail every day.

He is survived by his Children, daughter Mary Brown Zephier, grandchildren Darrell Jr, Daxton, Tanksi, Oyate, Akicita, Inkpa, Mato, Indie, Hannah and Hadley Dean. Uncles Darrell and Izzy Zephier, Aunts Gertie Ann, Twila, Sara Zephier, Brothers Kim Drapeau, Philip Councillor, Richard Zephier, Sisters Neva and Ally Zephier, Roxanne Sazue and Jill Fallis. Special Nephew Mitchell Zephier. Special Nieces Christine Obago, Sylvia Rockwood, Gina Drapeau, Delcie Miller. Hunka Sons and Daughters Nettie Kirk, Jace Pratt, Joseph Shields.

Preceded in the spirit world by his parents, his wife Pauline Zephier, sisters Jeanette, Barbara, Geraldine, Charlott Zephier and Phyllis Comes Flying, and his brother Freeman. Hunka children Hopa Crawford, Janice Ware, Mary Stepp, Doug Grey Owl, Rick Hudson, Tj Max, Kevin Andrews.