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03/16/2015 - Mary Yellow Bird Steele Exendine
Funeral services for Mary Rose Yellow Bird Steele Exendine, age 75, will be held on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2015 with the place and time to be announced at a later date.
Condolences may be left in Mary’s online guestbook at Sioux Funeral Home www.siouxfuneralhome.com.
Mary passed away at 6:23 AM on March 7, 2015 at her home in Chadron, NE.
Mary was born in Red Shirt Table to Charles Cuny Yellow Bird Steele and Sara Aldyth Marshall Yellow Bird on November 27, 1939. During World War II, there were no jobs, so the family moved to Provo (later changed to Igloo) so her dad could find work. Her dad worked at Ordnance until the war ended. Mary was a twin. She and her twin were born in a tent during a blizzard and slept in boxes. Mary was a month old when she finally was able to be seen by a medical doctor, weighing 4 pounds. Her twin sister passed away when she was 6 months old. Mary was the second oldest of eleven children. She went to boarding school in Pine Ridge, SD grades 1st-9th; she then attended Holbrook Indian School in Holbrook, AZ. She went on to earn an Associate’s of Science degree in Hotel/Motel Management from National Business College in Rapid City, SD and also attended the Havasupai Tribe’s job training to become a slot technician.
Mary had many jobs. She worked as a nanny, dishwasher and in various factories (glass, moccasin and electric and even welding!). She was a nurse’s aide for eight years in Omaha, NE and Pine Ridge, SD. She worked in a nursing home in Lincoln, NE and as a receptionist/secretary at Wiconi, as a front desk clerk/night auditor in downtown Rapid City, a cashier at Walmart, and a slot technician in Las Vegas and Red Wing, MN.
Mary married Elbert Exendine Sr. in March 1981 in Sundance, WY. They had attended the same boarding school when they were children and met again in later years. They were married until Elbert passed away on November 23, 2008. They both enjoyed fishing and traveling.
Mary enjoyed reading, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, movies, board games, collecting rocks and spending time with family and friends.
Mary was a free spirit, moving from place to place, a true nomad. She came back to Nebraska and settled here in Chadron until her death. Mary brought smiles and love to many people in her life. She was an angel in giving messages to strangers out of the blue. She was loved by many people that she touched in her life. Mary was a Christian and attended the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Payabya community on the Oglala Lakota reservation.
Mary is preceded in death by husband Elbert Wayne Exendine Sr., parents Charles and Sara, brothers Dennis, Robert and Richard, sisters Marilyn Ruth and Faye, and son Larry Danforth.
Mary is survived by daughters Terri Rattler, Leslie Skinner, Kelli Skinner and Debbie Soar; grandchildren Joseph Blacksmith III, Diamond Rattler, Travis and Trenton Rattler, Sara Skinner, Joetta Skinner, Christopher Moses, Ariel Skinner, Austin Skinner, and Lydia Skinner; and great grandchildren Geliza Skinner, Peyton Blacksmith, Gracie Welder, Ezekiel Skinner, and Trenton Rattler Jr.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Chadron Home Hospice for their support in Mary’s final days.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD is in charge of arrangements for Mary Rose Yellow Bird Steele Exendine.
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