Vernon Fredrick Traversie

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June 12, 1943– January 8, 2021

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  • Vernon Fredrick Traversie
    Vernon Fredrick Traversie
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Vernon Fredrick Traversie, 77, of Rapid City passed away on January 8, 2021 in Rapid City.

Vern was born June 12, 1943 in Timber Lake to Joseph David Traversie, Sr. and Laura Johnson. At age 3 he moved to LaPlante, where he resided until 1959. He attended school from third grade to eighth grade at Old Cheyenne Agency Boarding School until 1959 when he enrolled in the dorms at Eagle Butte. He graduated in May 1963 with academic honors. He was on the honor roll throughout high school and in his senior year he had all A’s.

Vern was athletically gifted as well, lettering in basketball, track and football. He played basketball for four years as a Cheyenne-Eagle Butte Brave and was on the varsity top five his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He also ran track for two years and played football.

At age 57 he went back to school at the Cheyenne River Community College and earned an Associate’s Degree in Social Work, graduating with a 4.0 average. He was a recipient of a $1000 scholarship from the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

Vern worked for 8 years in the boys dorm. He worked for the Tribe as the Tribal Records Manager and spent 6 months as acting Personnel Manager under Chairman Melvin Garreau, Sr.

He was a volunteer at the Indian Health Service as a janitor and driver. In 1991 Vern went to a training center at Sioux San and got an EMT license, enabling him to work at the Teton Ambulance Service under the direction of Alta Tiger as an EMT and a driver for four months until he lost his vision.

Gifted with musical ability, he played in country and western bands his entire life. He enjoyed playing the guitar and singing. Vern was a man of strong faith, who overcame many obstacles in his life.

Vern moved to Rapid City in October of 2019.

He was preceded in death by his parents and all his siblings, four sisters and five brothers.

He is survived by his significant other and longtime caretaker, Karen Townsend of Rapid City.