Funeral services for Emery Bobtail Bear, 62, will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at The Bear Soldier Blue Gym in McLaughlin. Burial will be in the St. Paul Cemetery in Little Eagle under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Monday, July 1, 2024, with a prayer service to begin at 7:00 PM at The Blue Gym in McLaughlin. Emery passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck.

Emery "Sno" Joseph Bobtail Bear was born to Valerie (Bobtail Bear) Archambault on March 4, 1962, in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Emery entered the Spirit World on June 26, 2024, at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. He attended the Little Eagle Day Scholl from 1st-8th grade. He then went to high school in Standing Rock, graduating in May 1981. In 1982, he met and married Linda Neiss. To this marriage, their two sons, Emeron and Emerson were born. They both attended United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota where he studied to be an Electrician. After this, he joined the National Guard, the Mobridge Bridge Unit and he was deployed to Germany. In 1991, he was deployed to Kuwait for Operation Desert Storm.

He returned to Little Eagle and started working at Grand River Casino at various jobs. He worked as a blackjack dealer, slot tech, security, surveillance supervisor, floor supervisor and lastly, in the maintenance department. He also worked briefly for Prairie Knights Casino as a surveillance agent. He also worked at Veteran's Industries in McLaughlin, where he retired.

In 1992, he met Jaci Kills Pretty Enemy, to this union, their two daughters, Mikayla and Rayschel were born.

Emery enjoyed singing with the Running Antelope Drum Group which consisted of his late uncles, Perry, Howard, Cornelius Bobtail Bear, Dale and George Weasel and his late cousins, Adrian "Louie" Bobtail Bear and Wilbur Makes Him First, Sr. He enjoyed traveling the pow wow trail with them. He received his Indian Name, "Akicita Waste" which means Good Soldier during a Lower Brule Powwow in the 80s, while living there. He also enjoyed shooting pool, hunting, fishing, watching his favorite football team the Minnesota Vikings and baseball team, the Minnesota Twins and visiting with friends.

After becoming disabled, he lived the remainder of his life in McLaughlin, South Dakota until his passing.

Emery is survived by his mother, Valerie Archambault of McLaughlin, his four sisters, Victoria Bobtail Bear of Bismarck, Candace Hall (Justin) of Billings, MT, Doye Archambault of McLaughlin, and Tracie Archambault of Mobridge, his children, Emeron and Emerson Bobtail Bear of Oglala, SD and Rayschel Kills Pretty Enemy of McLaughlin, his brothers, Noah Glick of Dickinson, ND, and Verdell Bobtail Bear of Little Eagle, his uncle, Anthony Bobtail Bear, Sr., of Little Eagle and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and extended family too numerous to mention.

He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Mikayla, his brother, Justin Archambault, his maternal grandparents, William and Thelma Bobtail Bear, his uncles, Perry, Howard, Cornelius, William Jr., Dale and George Weasel, Gary and Orlie Little Dog, his aunts; Joan Red Fox, Charlene Kelly and Christine Lewis and other extended family too numerous to mention.