Funeral services for Judy Kirkie, 77, of Fort Thompson, SD will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 5, 2020 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fort Thompson SD with burial in Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery at Stephan, SD.  Wake services will be 8:00 pm on Thursday and Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fort Thompson.

Eva Judy (Grey Cloud) Kirkie was born on June 24th, 1943 to Cedric and Zona (Briggs) Grey Cloud in Pierre, SD.  She was the youngest of four children, one brother and two sisters.

She was raised in Old Fort Thompson where she attended school from 1st grade to 6th grade.  She graduated from the 8th grade then went to school in Stephan, SD for three years and finished high school at Flandreau Indian School on June 2, 1961.

In 1962, she met Leon Kirkie III (Jr.), they were married they were blessed with 8 children, six boys and two girls.

Besides raising her own kids she also helped in raising others like her niece Marcia Grey Cloud and nephew Duane Grey Cloud.  She adopted three of her grandchildren Russell, Ronna, and Ryan Kirkie and she also raised January Monteau, Evelyn and Evan Kirkie, Anton and Kenisha Kirkie, and a few of her great grandchildren.

In June 1966, she started work at the Fort Thompson Head Start program and enjoyed it for three years, then she got hired at the grade school working in the Chapter I Program for math and reading, where she stayed for 18 years until she retired.

Judy always attended school activities for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  You could hear her cheering from a mile away or more.  She also loved rummages and her saying was "other people's junk is her treasure." She was involved in the Hunkpati Veterans Group and sat on the Elderly Board and was involved with a few other programs.

Judy leaves behind nine children: Craig, Jody, Willard, Monte, Myron, Russell, Ronna and Ryan Kirkie, January Monteau; her niece Marcia Grey Cloud and grandchildren and great grandchildren especially her Queen Sanaa; a half brother Elroy Walking Bull, and in-laws Melby Kirkie, Elnita Rank, and Ed Harrison; and many other relatives and friends to numerous to mention.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Leon Kirkie III, two sons Kevin and Leon IV, daughter Kendra, granddaughter Tauni, grandson Tory; older brother, and two older sisters.