Edward Widow, 91, of Dupree passed away November 20, 2023, at Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte. Funeral services were held December 2-4 and burial was at St. Mark’s Cemetery.
Ed was grateful for a childhood full of good memories. He was grateful for all the neighbors and friends for providing a safe refuge for a young boy working for his pay, developing his dreams. With their help, he escaped the brutal boarding school experience. He learned to live within cultures.
In Ed’s search for his dreams, he met and married his true love, Delma, and created a family. He leaves a legacy of five generations.
He had many visions and lived to see them continue to his last day on earth. He enjoyed meetings and discussions on future investments for the people and their welfare. He was adamant about education; he wanted parents to have the right to choose where they send their children.
He served on tribal council, being the longest seated tribal council representative. He sought to bring
January 12, 1932 – November 20, 2023
change to tribal and state relations, by ensuring the tribe had the voice to be heard.
He dreamed of having a horse herd and cattle to sustain his family, so he did it. He dreamed of attending the Cheyenne Frontier Days, he did it, as a stock contractor. His horses were featured in the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, NV.
He also included his horse-trading abilities. He had a special love for horse sales, and breeding lines. When he received a buckle for best stock contractor from the KC Longbrake Memorial Rodeo Community, he was surprised and remarked, “I like that, I’m a stock contractor.”
In his quest for spirituality, he gained many friends of many faiths, but he truly loved people for who they were. He attended the Church of Latter-Day Saints, the Mennonite Church, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church, and enjoyed being a member of all.
The humility he felt at all the good tidings he had in his life would be conveyed in his nightly prayers. The joy and energy he received from his grandchildren brought him utmost joy and laughter. He was grateful to have a large legacy, all the way from a lonesome beginning.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was entrusted with Ed’s arrangements.