Ellen (“Hin Luta Win”) In The Woods

Ellen In The Woods, 100, of Dupree entered the spirit world, Thursday, January 28, 2021 at the Medicine Wheel Village in Eagle Butte.

Funeral services were held February 6, 2021, at Pioneer Hall in Dupree. Burial was at the Dupree City Cemetery with Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg in charge of arrangements.

Ellen Mae Condon In The Woods “Hin Luta Win” (Red Hair Woman) was born January 2, 1921 to Josephine Little Eagle Condon (Deer Comes Out) and Thomas “Irish Tommy” Condon in Cherry Creek. Ellen finished eighth grade at the Cheyenne Agency School, then went to school in Bismarck, ND for a year.

She married Jobe In The Woods on July 10, 1936 in Dupree. They made their home along Rudy Creek and later along the Cheyenne River. In 1952 Jobe and Ellen moved to Dupree.

She worked side by side with her mother, picking plums, cherries and drying meat and helping those in their community. During her youth she rode horses, helped plow fields and worked right along with her brothers and father.

She had faith in her Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ. She went to church regularly and was active in her community. “Grandma” supported her family sundance every summer and camped out until she no longer could.

She started working in 1966 as a nurse’s aide at the Indian Health Service. She also worked as a cook with the IHS. She became a Community Health Representative (CHR) in 1975 and served in the communities of Cherry Creek, Red Scaffold and Bridger for 16 years. She was promoted to a field supervisor. She was very proud of her health care work which also included working with the EMT program as a driver and assistant.

Later in her life, she served on many boards, including as Johnson -O’Malley Board Chair, on the Health Board, a Manor Supervisor, a Shelter parent, and District #1 President. She also served on the Housing Board, Cultural Center Board, and Elderly Nutrition Board.

Ellen served as a midwife and delivered 19 babies and saved three mothers in delivery.

She was a fluent Lakota speaker. She received an honorary PhD in Lakota Education from Cheyenne River Community College. In 1996 she was named North American Indian Women’s Association (NAIWA) Woman of the Year.

Ellen is survived by her children: Bernard (Bernice) Woods, Bessie Moudy (Clifford), Burton In The Woods, Sr., Bentley In The Woods, Bryce (Candace) In The Woods, Bernita In The Woods, and Belinda In The Woods, all of Dupree; Barney (Nancy) In The Woods of Big Pine, CA; Charlene Red Thunder of Rapid City; and 49 grandchildren, 104 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; eight siblings: Felix, Andrew, Gerald, Silas, Kate, Moses, Edward, Joseph Roscoe and Clarence “Bud” Condon; two daughters, Barbara Ann In The Woods and Beverly M. Clown; and three sons: Robert, Blaine and Byron In The Woods.