Alvin Lawrence High Elk was born on August 18, 1946 at home in Green Grass, the seventh and youngest son of Isaac and Adelia (Thin Elk) High Elk. Alvin passed away on September 26, 2023 at Sanford Medical Center.
He attended school at old Cheyenne Agency until it closed in 1959. He then went to boarding school at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte. He finished the 10th grade and went on to get his GED. The Relocation Act sent him to the San Jose, CA training school where he took up automotive.
He met Roberta Pleets and they were married. They returned home to Bismarck, ND. Together they furthered their education at United Tribes Technical Center. He enrolled in the automotive program there and graduated in 1971 with an Associate’s degree.
Alvin’s son Leighton was born in 1969 and daughter Caroline (Diz) was born in 1970.
Alvin, Roberta and other classmates spent many days and nights petitioning their tribal leaders for donations to get the United Tribes Powwow started in 1969. They walked from door to door and to store fronts all over Bismarck in search of donations, grants and prizes for the powwow.
August 18, 1946 – September 26, 2023
Upon completion at UTTC, Alvin and family moved to New Town, ND where he worked at Heize Body Shop for several years. In 1980, acquiring a CDL license, Alvin was hired at the Glen Harold Mine in Stanton, ND to drive heavy equipment. Working at several mines around the area he spent the most years at Coteau Mine in Beulah.
In 1993, Alvin was given his Lakota name, “Brings Home A White Horse,” by his mother.
After retiring in 2010 due to dialysis, Alvin enjoyed sitting in the mall or Walmart and visiting people or friends that knew him.
Alvin is survived by daughter, Caroline (Diz) High Elk of Bismarck, ND; son, Leighton High Elk ofPhoenix, AZ; sisters, Doris (Tom) Red Bird, Ramona (Jim) Fischer, and Goldie Stroup, all of Bismarck, and Alvera Gomez of Mexicali, Mexico; many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren He is preceded in passing by his parents; stepfather Ed Long Fox; brothers Moses, Keith, Laverne, Fred, Marvin, and Roderick; nieces, Sioux Marie, Geri Rei, and Rose Mary; and great-grandchildren Neviana and Matho Maza.