03/23/2019 - Frank Willard Marshall Sr.

Funeral services for Frank Willard Marshall Sr., age 77, will be at 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the American Legion Gym in Martin, SD with Lay Minister Anthony Wounded Head officiating.

Burial will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Lakota Freedom Veterans Cemetery in Kyle, SD.

A one-night wake service will begin at 4:00 PM on Friday, March 22, 2019 at the American Legion Gym in Martin, SD with prayer services being held at 7:00 PM.

Frank was a veteran in the U.S. Marines.

Frank Sr. was born on November 2, 1941 in Pine Ridge, SD to Esther (Belt) Marshall and Pete Marshall. He made his journey to the Spirit World on March 16, 2019 at Bennett County Hospital in Martin, SD.

Frank was one of seven children. He grew up in Crawford, NE until he was in the 8th grade. He transferred to OCHS in the 9th grade. In his sophomore year, he went to Bennett County HS and then transferred to Holy Rosary Mission for his Junior year. During the summer of his junior/senior year, with the permission of his father, he enlisted in the United States Marines.

While in the military from 1959-1963, he was stationed at Camo Hague, Okinawa, Japan, Camp Pendleton, and 29 Palms, serving in the 3rd division Marines.

Upon discharging from the military, Frank moved to Los Angeles, CA where he met his wife Elizabeth Wells, the mother of his children: Marcie Sharpe of Andover, OH, Frank W. Marshall Jr. (USMC) of Seattle, WA, Tami Ballenger and Alicia Kroeze of Omaha, NE, and Elaine Matotamahece of Allen, SD.

He later met and married Melva Hobbitt and gained more children: Ronnie Kriz of La Mesa, CA, Tony Phillips of Pinedale, CA, Guy “Pep” Kriz of Puyallup, WA, Maneen Baker of Martin, SD, and stepson Tory Baker. For more than 30 years, he remained with his long-time special friend Georgia Daughters. His stepchildren from this relationship are Arlana Bettelyoun of Martin, SD, Rhonda Roebuck of Montana, Blaine Brush of Wyoming, and Marty Weisbeck of Kansas.

Frank served as the 5th Member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and assisted with the OST Veteran’s Pow-Wow since 1988. He dedicated his final years to advocating for the Oglala Lakota Veterans. He was actively involved with Veteran’s Affairs and marched with the Paha Sapa Akicita Okolakiciye and was co-founder of the Wild Horse Butte Tokala Society.

In the summer of 1995, he was instrumental in taking Korean War Veterans to Washington, D.C. to attend the Korean Veteran Memorial. He was a member of Post 251 in Pine Ridge. He also helped take Vietnam Veterans, women veterans included, to their respective memorial dedication. He served as the OST Veteran Service Officer for 12 years and volunteered years prior to that.

On January 3, 1993, Frank debuted the Veteran’s Hour on KILI Radio (90.1 FM). His goal was to help keep veterans aware of the latest VA news. He also worked with the OST Badlands Bombing Range for 15 years as an Unexploded Ordinance (U.X.O.) Tech 1.

Frank was an avid billiards player and a pool shark. He shot in pool tournaments in South Dakota and Nebraska. He also attended the national pool tournament in Las Vegas, NV at least four times. He loved to hang out at the 20 Bar, enjoying his black velvet and Pepsi, a good joke, and visiting his friends.

He also loved his grandchildren and was proud of their athletic and academic achievements. He will be greatly missed by grandchildren MacKenzie, Marshall, Kaitlin and Shane (USMC) Gibbons, TaSina, Wahinkpe, Amaya and Jevon Hacker, Tyra Quinn and Amira Hawkins, I’Hearah and Maxwell Ballenger, Skye Sharpe, Gage Watkins, Skye Pinon, Dana Richardson, Kamryn Dobbins, Angela Kriz, Tammy Phillips, Kelly Valenzuela, Isaiah Apachee, Richard Bettelyoun Jr., TaSina Win, Jordan High Horse, Arrow, Lynn, and Sahyne Curry, Tory Smith (USMC), Shanna, Kyle, and Amanda Smith, Braden and Carlee Brown, Uriah, Ian, and Vanessa Weisbeck and nieces and nephews George and Craig Clements, Connie (Chad) Kaltenbach, Cynthia Babby, and Beau Wayne (Shelley) Babby, all of Martin, SD.

Frank Sr. is survived by son Frank W. Marshall Jr. of Seattle, WA; daughters Marcie Sharpe of Andover, OH, Tammy Ballenger of Omaha, NE, Elaine Matotamahece of Allen, SD, and Alicia Kroze of Omaha, NE; and sister Theda (Dwayne) Babby of Martin, SD.

Frank Sr. was preceded in death by parents Pete and Esther Marshall; siblings Melford Belt (Korean Veteran), Melvin White Magpie, Adam, David, and Esther Marshall; nephew Terry Clements; and stepsons Conrad and Mike Wells (both USMC), and Tory Baker.

Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD is in charge of arrangements for Frank Willard Marshall Sr.