Funeral services for Laverna Long, age 79, of Eagle Butte will be at 10 AM MT, Monday December 10, 2012 at the HV Johnston Cultural Center in Eagle Butte. Burial will be at the Frazier Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be two hours prior to services Monday. Laverna passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Laverna (Brown Wolf) Long (direct descendant of Ghost Horse, a Sioux warrior killed at Wounded Knee) was born September 30, 1933 at the Old Cheyenne Agency on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Reservation. Laverna in her early years resided in the community of Red Scaffold, She was the third of 3 children Born to Giles and Bessie (Warbonnet) Brown Wolf.

Laverna attended the Cheyenne River Old Agency School where she graduated With Honors. Immediately left for further schooling to pursue her passion which was the medical field and that was a career in Nursing. Graduated from Baylor University in Texas and worked in Waco, Texas, Tacoma, Washington, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Anchorage, Alaska. She loved being a Nurse and did so for over 30 years as a CHR and in IHS. She almost did not complete education because her father died mid year thru her studies and came back to Texas and graduated. This was at a time when it was hard for Native Americans to pursue educational degrees and she accomplished this.
She retired in 2004 from the IHS after 27 years of Service. Laverna was a nurse at heart and did this for many years; A lot of our people and older patients who's English was not very good loved seeing Laverna at the hospital because they could talk "our" Lakota language they felt comfortable around her as a nurse and as a Lakota/elder, they could speak freely in Lakota. She will be missed. Laverna was known for always having a smile on her face. She's won numerous awards as a nurse, but by far she was proud of the National Nurse of the year award and an award Bill Janklow gave to her. She also won IHS nurse of the year and numerous other awards.

She was a life long member for the North American Indian Women Association, member of the Heartbeat at Wounded Knee Association, active participant at the Wounded Knee Memorial Ride, won the Mable Anne Wagner Award "Nursing Award"

On November 26, 1955 she married Emerson High Hawk/ Long. To this union were five sons: Floyd, Humphrey, Emery, Mike, Nial and three daughters: Byleen(deceased) Patsy, and Edith. She was a loyal and avid member of the Wounded Knee Survivors Association which her family is a direct descendent of. She comes from the Minnecojou Cultural Society. Was an active participant in Elder Gatherings on the Cheyenne River Reservation.

Laverna enjoyed reading, watching her grandkids and attending Powwows.
She tended cemeteries for her ancestors and liked Family gathers. She liked going to Council and listening and taking part of the "goings ons", and best of all loved to be with her grand kids. She always referred to her grandchildren as "grand kids"
She was cowgirl at heart before she got married and missed that life and loved her horse "Snowball". She loved the Ranch life and loved working with animals. Laverna for the most part raised 7 children by herself and accomplished a lot in her lifetime her children and relative are very proud of her and will miss her.

In her retirement years Laverna loved traveling, going to pow-wows and still loved a Rodeo or two. Her last 5 years was enjoyed with her love and joy…her dog "GOBI ".

Laverna resided in several other communities besides Red Scaffold this was Bridger, Dupree and Eagle Butte. She was an avid Bingo Player and loved talking to the players and catching up on the "goings ons". She will be missed at the Dupree Tiger and Eagle Butte Brave games.

Laverna is survived by her son, Floyd, Eagle Butte SD, Humphrey (Madonna), Rapid City SD, Emery, Dupree SD, Michael (Deanna) Rapid City SD, Nial, Eagle Butte SD, Patsy, Eagle Butte SD, Edith (Kevin) Newtown ND,. She had 45 Grandchildren and 8 Great grandchildren, Numerous Relatives and Tiospayes.
She was preceded in death by her Parents Giles and Bessie Brown Wolf, Husband Emerson, daughter Byleen, brothers Orrin and Rodney.