Mass of Christian Burial for Gilbert Kills Pretty Enemy II, 78, of McLaughlin will be at 11 AM, Friday, November 3, 2023 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Bullhead. Burial will be at the church cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. A prayer service will be at 7 PM Thursday at the church. Gilbert passed away Monday, October 23, 2023, at his home.

Gilbert A. Kills Pretty Enemy Jr. (Cibby) was born on November 30, 1944 to Gilbert and Ella Mae (Flying Horse) Kills Pretty Enemy. He grew up in Rock Creek SD and spent his time with his Grandpa Felix Kills Pretty Enemy, and had fond memories of his dog named Spots.

When Gilbert was younger, due to attending boarding school, and because of constant discipline for speaking his Lakota language, his first language, he developed a stuttering problem. During his younger school years, he was bullied because of this, and he would have to run home after school because he was constantly picked on. He had older cousins stick up for him. His grandfather Felix performed a Lakota Ceremony, which was at the time prohibited, at the request of his Grandmother, He remembered being at their log home, and they closed all doors and windows, and the grandfather and him went under a blanket/robe and he prayed for him, Gilbert remembered getting the confidence and being healed.

Gil attended Elementary at Marty Indian School, Bullhead Day School, Chamberlin and McIntosh. Gilbert played football in high school and graduated from Fort Yates in 1964. He then attended Haskell Indian College with a Technical Drafting certificate, and then received an Associate of Arts from Standing Rock Community College.

Gil worked in Los Angeles, California as a drafting manager at Linmold – Smith Machine Company during Vietnam, the company did contracts for military, aircraft, missiles and commercial. Because of the National Security Nature of the work and the Vietnam war, he was not drafted.

When he came back to Standing Rock, he designed numerous homes in McLaughlin, and Mobridge, Including the home he resided in for over 35+ years. He always talked about the way he originally drew it, and the changes the lady of the house made, he had many grand ideas for the house, including breaking down walls, putting in new doorways and log siding, he had many grand ideas.

He worked for Standing Rock Housing Corporation, Tri Plains Construction Corps, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Eagle 2000, Bureau of Indian Affairs Branch of Housing Development; He had many accomplishments from housing projects to creating homes for many different reservations in South Dakota. He retired as a GS-13 from the Aberdeen Area Office supervising overseeing 9 area tribes.

He was an avid hunter; he began as a boy with a bow and arrow throughout Brown Church area and Bullhead. He would say how during the 50s he and his friend would hunt rabbits to bring to the elders. He was the first on Standing Rock to shoot a buffalo with a bow and arrow in 1990.

He was a member of the California Kung Fu Federation and the American Shoto Kan Karate Federation North Central Region, he was a 4th Dan – 3rd Degree Black Belt. In the 80's he a gym downstairs of items he made by himself, for all his training. He did hold classes in Timberlake and McLaughlin teaching karate.

He also enjoyed Running in his younger days, he had many shirts and awards and he would run 10,000 meters during the summers. He remembered in his youth, his father getting them up and having them run up the hill and back by their house.

One of his loves was performing country, traditional, and gospel music. He performed in numerous places and venues. He had his own cd's and original songs, including "Indian Prayer", "Lady Warrior "one he made for Lori Piestawa, first native woman to get killed in action, "Only you my Lord", he rewrote "They wrote their names in stone" with names from Standing Rock, "Miss Indian South Dakota", and "Our Prodigal son has come home". He also wrote songs for his family members who passed away, including his mother, brother Tim, and Leroy Archambault to name a few. In his younger years he played in many bands, including Iron Eagle, Barney and the Savages, Sage, The Strangers & Spirit Wind to name a few.

Gilbert also participated in the 100-year Anniversary ride of the Big Foot Riders in 1990. This is also when he wrote the song, "Song of the Big Foot Rider.

He was a DJ on KLND performing the Roots of Rock Show, for 20+ years, displaying his love of music and knowledge of all genre's, he would begin his shows with the theme of Dances with Wolves, and then go "Wayyy Back" and then end with modern music. His CD Collection and his Movie Collection cannot be matched by any!

Gilbert loved having his family over for meals and get togethers, he would make sure his coffee was ready to go. He loved having his Grand kids around and his great grandchildren. He always made holidays and birthdays extra special with his one of a kind gifts. He wanted to know about all dates and events, so he could write them down in his daytimer, to make sure he didn't forget anything.

Gilbert would have celebrated his 40th year of sobriety this year, a great accomplishment, and something his family is very proud of.

Gilbert had a way of looking at the world, he could analyze any situation, take apart and put back together, he knew about electronics, electricity, building, architecture, mechanics, pool, hunting, horses, music, karate, guns, drawing, sound equipment, well actually everything. He was always learning and always keeping his mind active, he was always reading or watching documentaries, he even had online courses he was doing, studying books and magazines. Old shows, and crime solving were his newest passion, he always stayed up to date on the world news, even though you could always find him sleeping during the news.

Gil was a strong believer in both our traditional ways and Christianity, he was raised a stout catholic by his mother, he would always remember her saying the rosary, and praying. To this day, he made sure he had his rosary's and his "Holy Water". He remembered his Grandfather Flex and Alice teaching him the Lakota Ways. He has many books, movies and documents on Christianity, and in his tales always there was a moral of the story. Gil always supported his son Gilbert III in his Lakota path, always his truest supporter.

Our father was our everything, he always helped us, gave us advice, he was always on our side, always had our back. He helped his children become who they are today. He will be missed so much but he gave us the strength and knowledge to continue, and raise our families.

Gilbert will be leaving his 3 children behind, Jacqueline Kills Pretty Enemy, Kimberly (Carley) Cosay, and Gilbert Kills Pretty Enemy III. His sisters Mary Helen Kills Pretty Enemy, and Clarice Kills Pretty Enemy, his brothers Micheal Kills Pretty Enemy Sr, and Kris Kills Pretty Enemy. He had 12 grand children, and 3 great grand children.

He is proceeded in death by His parents Gilbert Sr (2001), Ella May Kills Pretty Enemy (1983), Sister Edna Steele (2007), Brother Dale Kills Pretty Enemy (2014), Brother Timothy Kills Pretty Enemy (1985), Granddaughter Makayla Kills Pretty Enemy (2017) Great Grandchild Koen Tiger (2022)