Funeral services for Edward Allen "Root" Shields Jr., 68, of Fort Thompson, SD will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Fort Thompson Tribal Hall in Fort Thompson, SD with burial in the Conkicaska Presbyterian Cemetery at Fort Thompson, SD.  Wake services will be 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Fort Thompson Tribal Hall in Fort Thompson, SD.

Anyone wishing to follow, the procession will leave at 3:00 p.m. on Monday from the funeral home.

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Edward Allen Shields Jr. "Root" was born December 1, 1956 to Edward Allen and Alice (Eagle) Shields Sr.  He attended school at Chamberlain, Pierre, Fort Pierre, and then Crow Creek High School where he graduated in May of 1975.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for time.  He attended Haskell College for a year.

Allen met Marilyn Felicia in 1977 and to this union five children were born Allen Glenn Shields, Rhiannon Ronita Shields, Lynette Brooke Shields, Calvin James "CJ" Shields, and Madeline Alyce Shields.

He later met Jamie Crazy Bull and to this union two children were born Tina Kay and Melina Allen Shields.

Allen worked at Fort Thompson Police Department as janitor and dispatch, at Crow Creek High School as dorm attendant, at Crow Creek Housing Authority in maintenance, and most recently for Crow Creek Sioux Tribe as janitor and maintenance for many years.

Allen was a kind ambitious man who loved life and his family.  He enjoyed cooking, listening to music and fishing.  He had a good sense of humor and was always joking and teasing around.  He was sort of a "jack of all trades" helping others out, fixing things whether household or cars.  His famous saying was always "I Macgyvered it"

Allen passed away February 26, 2025 at Highmore Healthcare in Highmore, SD at the age of 68 years.  Gratefully sharing his life are his children Glenn, Rhiannon, Lynette, and Maddie all of Fort Thompson, Tina Eagle Butte, SD and Melina of Presho, SD; 17 grandchildren Brennan Lewis WM, Shawna Rae Shields, Glenn "Chris" Shields, Danny Ray Sazue Sr., Jacob Scott Sazue, Felicity Lynn Shields, Michael James Farmer Jr., Latisha Alsephine Shields, Harlee Adrianna Hawk, Cassandra JoAnne Shields, Bianca Doniyah Faith Shields, Amerie Elianna Shields, Caprice Julianne Shields, Maliyah Larayah Shields, Alexander Dre Miller, Marissa Claire Bauder, and Aiden Dean Bauder;  seven great grandchildren Bentley James Hawk, Mila Renae Hawk, Olivia Joanne Big Eagle, Kambryne Grace, Kaizley Genevieve, Danny Ray Jr., and Antoine Eagle Sazue; his siblings Carla Spears of Pierre, SD, Debbie Shields of Fort Thompson, SD; uncles Delbert Shields of Pukwana, SD and Donnie Eagle of Mission, SD; auntie Alsephine Joseph of Fort Thompson, SD; and many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Preceding him in death were his parents Eddie and Alice Shields, son CJ Shields, granddaughter Maliyah Shields, paternal grandparents Mark and Doris Shields, Maternal grandparents Herman and Mabel Eagle, uncles Sherman Eagle, Wayne Shields, and Mark Shields Sr., and auntie Jeanie Eagle.