Funeral services for Adele Little Dog, age 85, of Little Eagle will be Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 at 1:00 PM CT at The Little Eagle Blue gym. Visitation will be Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 from 4:00 PM CT till 10:00 PM at the Blue Gym. Burial will be in the Elkhorn Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Adele passed away Friday, December 23, 2011 at the Golden Living Center in Mobridge.

The people of Standing Rock Reservation lost one of their finest educators with the passing of Adele F. Little Dog. Adele's lifelong dream of educating children began in the Pierre, SD public school system in the late 1950s and continued to schools at Pine Ridge Reservation, Cheyenne River Reservation and back home to Standing Rock where she taught at Bullhead and Little Eagle before returning to college to further her education. Mrs. Little Dog was the first Native woman to receive a Master of Arts degree from Black Hill State University, she also received the BHSU Distinguished Alumni Award at Swarm Day in 1986. Upon receiving her administrative certification Adele began her work as the Principal of the Little Eagle Day School where she was willing and able to take on any and all government agencies to ensure that the children received the services they needed. Through her perseverance she made sure that Little Eagle got to the top of the BIA construction list for receiving a new school facility. At one point in this lengthy process entertaining a visit from Sen. Daniel Inouye who was the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He arrived in a helicopter and made a hurried inspection of the old school facility. He was impressed by the care and appearance of the old school and was key in supporting the appropriations for the new school facility which was built in 1985. As principal, Adele successfully wrote grant proposals for every program available...Titles I, II, III, IV, V and VII. If there had been more program numbers she would have written proposals for them as well because she always had services for the children at the top of her list! Through her ability to write proposals she was able to fund a fully developed library for the school and community, provide a physical education program for the students and write two publications: A History of Running Antelope Settlement and Heroes and Heroine of Running Antelope. The two publications were used as materials to help teach reading skills. Thee publications were highly sought after by community members and several families still have copies. Little Eagle became one of the first BIA schools to get student computers. Adele achieved this by writing a requisition for five "apples", thereby circumventing the BIA's restriction on computer purchases! Adele was a mentor to many teachers who began their careers with her as their Principal. We soon learned to do things right and with flair. Many will remember the elaborate Christmas programs and Halloween Carnivals during her years as the principal. Adele cared deeply about the youth of the community and always did everything in her power to provide them with many positive activities. Adele was always willing to talk with and counsel students and staff alike and believed that problems could be solved through hard work and prayer.

Another great love of Adele's life was basketball. She and her husband Dale loved basketball and took teams all over the Dakotas to participate in tournaments. They also sponsored an Independent team, the Takojas, and they also traveled all over playing in games. Adele did fund-raising to help support the school by sponsoring Independent Tourneys. Many may remember being measured while lying on the floor to ensure they could indeed participate in the 6 Foot and Under Tourneys!

Adele's distinguished career was recognized in 1981 when she was chosen as Educator of the Year by the South Dakota Indian Education Association. She also served as the Administrator of the Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ for many years. She was also adamant about making sure her employees received recognition for their accomplishments and years of service to the students of Little Eagle Day School. Adele excelled at her job and was detailed to Washington D.C to review Federal education programs and she also served on the accreditation committee for BIA schools. Adele retired from the BIA in 1998 after 44 years of service. She continued to live in her home in Little Eagle until the time of her death.

Adele is survived by one adopted son, Dana (Aldean) Fast Horse of Little Eagle, SD, Susie Long Elk, Ethel Comes, first cousins Henrietta Bobtail Bear and Aaron Grindstone of Little Eagle, Diane (Leon, Sr.) Brown Otter of McLaughlin, SD, two hunka daughters, Kristen Bringe, and Jeanne Janson and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and hunka relatives.

Adele was preceded in death by her first husband Jesse Ankle, her second husband, Dale Little Dog, her parents Alice and Alan Grindstone, her sister, Irene Village Center.