Funeral services for Marcia Francis Surdez, 59, of Lower Brule, SD will be 10:00 am Saturday, November 6, 2021 at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule, SD.  Wake services will be 7:00 pm Friday at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule, SD. As per her requests she will be cremated after services.

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Marcia passed away on November 1 , 2021 at Ava's Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

Marci Surdez was born Marcia Francis Kennedy to Pearl Kennedy (Colombe) on January 17th, 1962 in Chamberlain, SD.

She met Roland Blue Dog and from this union her eldest daughter Lisa Kennedy was born. She later met Calvin Nichols and from this union her only son Travee Surdez was born. On July 10th, 1984 Marcia was united in marriage to Harlan Surdez. She later met Robert (Pete) Petersen and from this union her youngest daughter Shawnda Petersen was born.

Marci graduated with an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Sinte Gleska University, through the Lower Brule Community College in May 2006 . After her graduation she worked at Tribal Communications until her health no longer permitted.

Marci had a resilient spirit. She was loving, kind, and would give you the shirt off her back. Marci was always full of color and tried to bring laughter to all. She loved driving around listening to music and made beautiful beadwork until her hands would no longer cooperate. Back in the day, when she lived in Sioux Falls, she was pinball machine queen. While she was in the hospital she never complained or talked about why she was there, just tried to make everyone laugh. Her favorite foods were Taco Bell and Werther's Original candies. She loved watching Star Wars, Star Trek and scary movies. Most of all she loved giving rides to her grandkids on her wheelchair and when she talked about her grandchildren her eyes would light up!

She struggled with the loss of her legs but made up for it in boundless energy for finding ways to be kind and with all the hardship she has known in her life, Marci never lost her spirit and her joy for life. She lived every minute to the fullest. All she ever wanted was to be loved by her family, which she most certainly was.

She is survived by her eldest daughter Lisa Kennedy and children Kris-Anthony, Jeshua Jr, Jesse & Jazzy; her son Travee Surdez and children Neleigh, Shylee, Zeneth, Zayden & Zaylen; youngest daughter Shawnda Donovan and children Ezra, Emmett, Elijah, Ethan, Evengaline & Edwin; siblings Anthony (Susanne) Kennedy, Laura (Kennedy) St. John, Elaine Kennedy, Priscilla Colombe, Eric (Christina) Colombe, Colin Colombe, Roberta (Kent) McLaughlin, Jenny (Farley) Colombe-Hawk; auntys Claudia McBride,  Martina Hendrixon, and uncle Robert Kennedy, Jr. as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Marci is being welcomed home by her mother, Peal Colombe; brother, Robert (Robbie) Wayne Colombe, Jr.; auntys, Vern Hilda Ward, Aleta Louise McBride; and uncles Howard Taft Kennedy, Jr., Rudolph V. Kennedy, and Vern Sylvester Kennedy.