Pearl Lema (Kennedy) Colombe, age 79, passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2020 at the Sanford Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.  Private family services will be held. Burial services will be at date to be determined due to COVID-19.

Pearl was born on February 19, 1941 to Howard Taft and Mary (Fogg) Kennedy at the Fort Thompson Hospital in old Fort Thompson, SD. Pearl is an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe which she was very proud of. Pearl attended grade school at St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, SD. She went on to graduate from High School at Flandreau, SD.

On November 17, 1971 she was united in marriage to Robert Wayne Colombe, Sr. Her surviving children are Marcia Surdez (Lower Brule, SD), Anthony (Susanne) Kennedy (Lower Brule, SD), Laura (Kennedy) St. John (Winner, SD), Elaine Kennedy (Chamberlain, SD), Priscilla Colombe (Crow Creek, SD), Eric (Christina) Colombe (Denver, CO), Colin Colombe (Lower Brule, SD), Roberta (Kent) McLaughlin (Rapid City, SD), Jenny (Farley) Colombe-Hawk (Fort Thompson, SD). Pearl loved her entire family, from her mother and father, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, children, her many grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family.  Pearl's surviving siblings are Claudia McBride,  Martina Hendrixon, and Robert Kennedy, Jr. Pearl had very close lifelong friends and she always made friends wherever she went whether it was going to a doctor appointment or doing her shopping, she always made a friend. Pearl also loved her family pets. She would always say, "They are part of the family too." She always taught them tricks and they were very protective of her.

Pearl worked for her community as a Community Health Representative (CHR) for the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe where she would transport patients to their appointments and made first aid available to the local area. She attended Nursing School at Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD and Eagle Butte, SD. She also worked at the Golden Buffalo Casino as a Black Jack Dealer in Lower Brule, SD where she enjoyed dealing cards and meeting new people.

Pearl taught Native American Studies at the Sinte Gleska College in Lower Brule, SD. She taught beadwork, quilting and sewing. She also worked for the Boys and Girls Club of Lower Brule, SD where she was called "Grandma" by all the children.  She would take them on field trips and taught them about native plants and harvesting berries and making wasna. She remembered the names of all those children and their parents from the Boys and Girls Club. Anytime she would see them when she was at the store or around the community, they would visit, they still called her "Grandma".  They are all young adults and many have made families of their own now.  She was always glad to see every one of them and always wanted the best for them.

Throughout her life Pearl always shared stories of the Dakota culture and way of life. Pearl shared stories of living along the river prior to the dams being built. She shared her stories of riding horseback with her cousin Johnny, visiting her beloved Aunt Francis, and hunting in the timber with her father. She remembered when families had their own traditional wacipi's and how she longed for that to return to our culture. She loved going to the powwows in the summer to watch the dancing and catch up with relatives.

Pearl made beautiful Native American star quilts, beadwork, and quillwork. Some of her pieces are displayed in the Smithsonian. She was self-taught in all forms of her artwork. Pearl also enjoyed drawing and oil painting. She taught the craft of beadwork and quilting to her children, grandchildren and community members. She loved to hear that the people that she taught quilting or beading continued on and developed the artwork into their own.

Although Pearl faced many adversities as a child and as an adult, she met them with a headstrong and determined attitude. She overcame burdens or obstacles with her faith in God and that things will always work out, and they did. When you sat down to visit with her, she always had an interesting story to tell about times of when she was a child and growing up. She always had a smile and sage advice to share. Her name was Nape' Okiye Win (Lakota) or "Helping Hands Woman" and she lived up to her name by helping people through her entire life. Pearl made many friends and became a source of advice and comfort through friendship and mentorship for many she crossed paths with.

Her family will always love and cherish memories of Pearl. Pearl went out of her way to make things special for her family when it came to holidays, to her cooking, family outings and picnics. Pearl's interests in home cooking, baking, gardening, and canning foods have been instilled into her children.  She also taught her children and grandchildren to appreciate the outdoors when they were growing up. Today many of her children and grandchildren are avid sportsman or outdoor enthusiasts and she was proud of that.

The holidays were always special to her, especially Easter and Christmas. She would always make Christmas and Easter a time of celebrating Jesus. Pearl was devout in her faith as a Catholic and always would share stories from the bible. She will be remembered in our hearts.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Mary Kennedy; son, Robert (Robbie) Wayne Colombe, Jr., siblings, Vern Hilda Ward, Howard Taft Kennedy, Jr., Aleta Louise McBride, Rudolph V. Kennedy, and Vern Sylvester Kennedy.

There will be an official celebration of her life at a later date.