Funeral services for Elnita Mae Rank, 84, of Fort Thompson, will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, August 2, 2021 at the St. Joseph's Catholic Hall in Fort Thompson, SD. Burial will follow at the Conkicaska Presbyterian Cemetery in Fort Thompson, SD. Wake services will be 7:00 p.m. Sunday, August 1, 2021 at the St. Joseph's Catholic Hall in Fort Thompson, SD.

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Elnita Mae Rank was born on January 14, 1937, in Fort Thompson, South Dakota to Leon Kirkie Sr. and Laura Mae Shoots the Enemy/Harrison Kirkie.  She passed away in the comfort of her own home, on July 28, 2021 at the tender age of 84, surrounded in love by her tiwahe. She grew up in Bad Nation, Fort Thompson, and Mitchell.  She graduated from Mitchell High School and attained a vocational certificate as an administrative assistant.

Elnita's traditional name is Oyate Wacin Yapi Win, which translates to Woman Called Upon to Help the People. She embraced this name upon entering a life of public service, tribal leadership and owning a business.  She proudly served as Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Chair for a tenure and believed strongly in advocating for tribal rights.  Elnita held a prominent leadership role with United Sioux Tribes fighting for the rights of tribes on a national platform.  Throughout her life, she worked in various roles of tribal government and enjoyed representing individuals as a tribal paralegal.  She and her husband owned and operated Rank's Service for several years, serving the community and teaching their family the value of service.  By way of the station, her family grew to include a number of hunka children and relatives, honoring her with a second traditional name of Ina Wicayuonihanpi ,  Mother to all.

Elnita's greatest enjoyment was her large tiospaye. She traveled many miles to attend children's and grandchildren's activities and especially academic graduations. She loved her old country music and would often reminisce about dancing with her husband.  She enjoyed playing cards, reading books, working in her yard planting trees and flowers, her crossword puzzles, and Sudoku.  Each morning at coffee time, with her baby brother, Melby, and her best friend, Judy, they would solve tribal, national, and world challenges while anticipating what was arriving in their daily happy meal and awaiting the start of The Young and Restless.

Honored to carry on her legacy and memory are her children; daughters- Robyn Hawk of Lodgepole, MT, Ronda Hawk, Roxie Estes, Kristal Hawk, Melva Rank, and Melita "Chepa" Rank (Patrick Engels) of Fort Thompson, SD, and sons-Kirk "Bud" Hawk of Belle Plaine, MN, and Mel Rank and Larry Rank of Fort Thompson, SD; hunka children; John (Shannon) Daly of Pukwana, SD and Julie Daly of Castle Rock, CO; her siblings Richard (Doris) Kirkie and Melby Kirkie of Fort Thompson, SD; and 54 grandchildren, 113 great grandchildren, and 23 great-great grandchildren.

Embracing her in love as she enters her spiritual home are her husband, Melvin, a WWII veteran;  parents, Leon and Laura, her daughters-Karen Will, Linda Volesky, Darcy Rank and her sons-Marty Rank and Jay Hawk; her grandchildren; Shiloh Rank, Cody Wade, Tyler St. John, and Liam Rank and great grandson Xavier;  her special sister in law and best friend-Judy Kirkie; and siblings Rita Maryls Kirkie, Ron Kirkie, Menia Mann, Leon Kirkie Jr., Florence Marquez, Mavis Kirkie, Kristal Kirkie, and Ivy Head.

She left this world loving us but ready to join those she missed dearly.  We find comfort in knowing she is having coffee, playing cards, and dancing with Dad.  Journey well, Mother.  Your physical presence will be missed by us all.