IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Pauline

Pauline Zephier Profile Photo

Zephier

May 14, 1938 – July 5, 2024

Obituary

Funeral services for Pauline Z. Zephier, 86, of Fort Thompson, SD will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday July 11, 2024 at the Zephier Residence at Bad Nation, SD with burial in the Zephier Family Plot at Bad Nation, SD.  Wake services will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday evening at the Zephier Residence at Bad Nation, SD.

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Wawoyika Win Pauline Zallie Harrison- Zephier born a twin (Paul Russell Harrison Jr) on May 14th 1938, to Ida Turner and Andrew Harrison and a Great Grandchild of Chief Drifting Goose, she was the youngest girl of 7 Children,

She met the love of her life in February of 1977 and a month later they were joined in Marriage on March 19th 1977, She is the Mother to Marcia "Mush" Wells 1965, Twin Boys Gerald and Darrell Zephier 1978, She was also the Hunka Mother to many, She had many grandchildren, Hannah Rose McGhee, Darrell Andrew Zephier Jr, Daxton Everette Zephier, Tanksi Rose Zephier, Oyate and Akicita Cooper, Inkpa Zephier, Mato Eastman, Indie Sharon Zallie Has No Horse, Shavonne Stepp, Danika All Around, Greg Grey Cloud and Jason Bear Cook. Grandma the Great to Hadley Dean McGhee. Special sisters Alsephine Joseph, Carol Wanda Harrison and Phyllis Comes Flying. Special Brothers Bill and Puggy Hawk, Eddie Harrison, Melby Kirkie and Delano LeCompte. Aunt to The Howes, The Voices, The Rockwoods. Special Nieces Tasha, Tipsi, Sylvia, Rozelle, Carol and Tera.

As a child she helped her family shock and work in fields for Lambert Knippling, who later became family to her. In her younger days she attended school in old Fort Thompson, Gann Valley school and later Stephan mission school, she completed her GED and college at Michigan State University. She worked as a headstart teacher in Fort Thompson, CHR for Crow Creek, and a Home School Liaison at the Crow Creek Tribal Schools where she worked until her retirement in 2004.

From 1969 to 1986 she helped her brothers with Rodeo Productions, some of the first for Fort Thompson and Bad Nation Area. This was something she later encouraged her Daughter and Granddaughter to carry on.

In 1976 she, her sisters, and brothers were on Keloland to sing Dakota Christmas hymns, singing was one of her favorites and best past times. Her favorite country singer was Kitty Wells, she's in videos singing the song C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S.

Her Boys began singing in 1986 and traveling the powwow circuit she was an avid supporter of them singing, in 2022 she fell ill and was unable to follow and travel with them but encouraged them to continue singing and helping the people.

In 1993 alongside her husband and others they formed Bad Nation Sundance, she invited and encouraged all to attend and learn the Dakota ways and to carry on the tradition. Every June she would open her home and place up to everyone who attended.

She lived up to her Dakota name helping all those in need.

She is a survivor of kidney cancer, bell palsy, several strokes and COVID. She was healed of many health problems because of her faith in tunkasina.

As she grew older her favorite things to do were to shop at the St. Joes Thrift Store, do word searches and watch Wheel of Fortune. During Covid Times she even had a special day they would let her in to shop just so shed get her retail therapy. Another thing she really enjoyed was attending the CROW CREEK CHIEFTAIN BASKETBALL GAMES. She cheered for the Minnesota Vikings and sometimes for her son Gs team the Green Bay Packers.

She joined many family members in the Spirit World to name a few, her grandpa drifting goose, mother and father Ida Turner and Andrew Harrison, Sisters Libby, Helena, Arlene and brothers Everette, Ray, Paul and Francis Knippling, Aunts Laura Kirkie and Madeline Felicia, Uncle Paul and Hunka Brother Coleman Beaver, Morley Alberta Canada, Hunka Daughters Annette Hopa Crawford, Janice Ware and Mary Stepp, son Doug Grey Owl and Many Powwow and Church Friends, Rick Hudson, Kevin Andrews, Tj Max, Special cousins Rose and Mary Ann.

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