Funeral services for Annette Y. Big Eagle, 63, of Lower Brule will be 1:00 pm Thursday, June 27, 2013 at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule with burial in the Holy Comforter Episcopal Cemetery at Lower Brule. Wake services will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule.

Today, we celebrate the life of Annette Yvonne (Wilson) Big Eagle. We remember her life and the precious memories she made with her family, friends, and all her relatives in this lifetime. Annette was born on May 27, 1950, in Chamberlain, SD to Elmira Wilson and Alfred Y. Ziegler. She was the eldest child of both her parents. Annette lost her mother at the age of three years. She was raised up by her aunt Margaret Wilson, her father, and paternal grandmother Laura Ziegler. She attended grade school at Pierre Indian School, and Lower Brule Grade School, then on to Flandreau Indian School to complete her high school education. In the early seventies, Annette went on to further her education at Roswell Institute in New Mexico, and later at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Albuquerque receiving a certificate for Accounting and Business Administration. She was united in marriage to Patrick V. Big Eagle in December of 1980. She entered the work world in 1972, finding employment at the Lower Brule Housing as a Clerk-Typist. October 1974 was the beginning of Annette's career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She began working in a temporary position with the Branch of Law Enforcement, then in the Branch of Education. As she moved up the general schedule career ladder, she eventually moved into the Branch of Social Services as a full-time employee. As with all of us, as we go through our life's journey, we are faced with many choices and challenges, but in the Branch of Social Services, Annette found her calling, and she accepted this new challenge with relish and determination to succeed. She became the manager of the B.I.A. Social Services Program, until 1997, at which time the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe contracted the Program and Annette was brought over as the Director of the newly minted Lower Brule Social Services Program. Annette was compassionate and committed to the community and her Kul-Wicasa Peoples. Her caring disposition made her a very successful and positive force in the field of Social Services here in Lower Brule, where she often served as an "Angel of Mercy" providing assistance for people and families, whom had nowhere else to turn. Annette loved her job immensely, because she truly loved helping those in need. She worked for the Lower Brule community for nearly four decades, and only retired because of health concerns. Annette was recently honored for her dedication and loyalty, and committing thirty-five years of hard work on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. Annette loved visiting with her family and friends, and having family get-togethers.

Annette continued working even after retiring from the tribe. She continued to work with the youth through cultural programs and green thumb. Annette spent most of her time with her grandchildren, cooking in the community, and visiting with friends.

Annette was a great mentor to many people and helped others to see the good in themselves and made them always feel important. She was a wonderful role model and many relatives turned to her when her resourcefulness and wisdom was needed. She was also the oldest surviving relative in her large family. She will be missed by many and is still loved by all.


Annette passed away on June 21, 2013 at Sanford Medical Center in Chamberlain at the age of 63 years. Gratefully sharing her life are her loving husband of 34 years Patrick Big Eagle; her four sons Jason Long, Dustin Montoya, Vaughn Big Eagle (Kim Rockwood) all of Lower Brule, James Big Eagle of Huron; her two daughters Nancy Big Eagle of Pierre, and Jane Big Eagle of Lower Brule; brother Sonny Ziegler; six sisters Alfreda, Brenda, Lori, Vicki, Kathy, and Nikki; a special aunt Winifred Wilson Boub (Jerry Boub); and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is also survived by many loving friends too numerous to mention.

Preceding her in death were her mother Elmira Wilson; father Alfred Y. Ziegler; sister Frances L. Wilson; brother Milton "Pat" Wilson; cousins Harriet High Elk and Mike Small Jumper; uncle Clarence "Yo-Yo" Wilson, adopted mother Shirley Flute; paternal grandmother Laura Ziegler; maternal grandmother Nancy Wilson and William Wilson.