Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Good Shield age 77 of Bridger will be 11:00 AM Thursday, January 4, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Red Scaffold. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. All night wake will begin at 5:00 PM Wednesday, January 3, 2018 wake services at 7:00 PM at the church. Mary passed away Sunday, December 24, 2017 at the Philip Health Care, in Philip, SD.

Mary Jane Good Shield was born December 20, 1940 in Red Scaffold, South Dakota to James and Fannie (Fish) Bear Stops. She had nine siblings; Alice, Moses, Patrick, Henry, James, Celestine, Lena, Pete, and Romanus. Mary Jane was the youngest. She attended Faith School, in Faith, South Dakota and Old Agency Boarding school, in Old Agency, SD. Mary Jane met her best friend Vernon Red Horse and moved to Bridger along the Cheyenne River, later moving into the Bridger Community raising her children and grandchildren, Jaydee, Devonna, Ree, Devina, Makai, and Laniah.

Mary Jane loved watching sunrises in the morning. She grew up at the Bear Stops country home in Red Scaffold, SD with her favorite horse named "Keyhole". She loved riding to her neighbors' or into Red Scaffold for the annual fair. She grew up in a traditional family respecting the Lakota way of life.   She was given the name "Ti el wotapi win".  She had a gift for quill work, she spent most days quilling and beading for her family.  She loved being with her mom, and both spent days quilling. Not a day was wasted. She shared her memories of attending church leaving from Inkpata to get to Red Scaffold by horse and wagon.  She was very proud of where she grew up and how they traveled from place to place and camped. She also shared her life with Henry and Sarah Red Horse, honoring family traditions, and shared the songs and stories of Tasunke Luta with her children.

Mary Jane worked at Eagle Butte Indian Health Service as an aide. She also worked at the Branding Iron Motel and at the Assisted Living facility. She enjoyed working with the elderly and children. She served on the Takini School Board. She did presentations at Takini School on making "wagabla", preparing dried meat, and how to make Wasna. She started the Summer Food Program in the Bridger Community where she loved seeing the kids come in and enjoy their meals. She also hosted Church Volunteers and YMCA workers during the summer. She and her hasani, Vernon, volunteered at The UCC Church in Bridger as a treasurer and Vern a janitor. They both loved preparing for Christmas and gatherings in Bridger. Most of all, she enjoyed hosting Church services in her home and feeding participants afterward. Although, she volunteered at the UCC Church she was active member with Bridger and Red Scaffold Catholic Church, attending Tekakwitha conferences, spending a weekend at the Sioux Spiritual Center in Plain View, South Dakota, and sometimes driving to the Black Hills to attend the Traditional Catholic Ceremonies, where they always requested her songs. She volunteered to organize a pow wow in 1989. Bridger had not had a community pow wow in a long time. She called it a 'back to school pow wow'. She also served on the Bridger Tri Community Local Board, and won awards from the Cheyenne River Housing Authority.  She loved to "wagabla," prepare dried meat, for winter and gatherings. She loved hand-sewing dresses and star quilt tops. She taught at the University of South Dakota and Black Hills State University in Traditional Lakota Arts. She loved traveling, pow wows, and attending community events.  She looked forward to a new year with her family at the Bear Stops "Wi wang waci". She was always honored by being asked to sing.  To all her relatives and friends, she treasured and loved you all.

At the end of day "Kiksuyapi," she would say, "Don't forget /remember". She enjoyed watching the sunset Mitakuye Oyasin. "We are all related".

She is Survived by Devina (Raymond) Longbrake, Ree (Iris) Red Horse, Jaydee Bear Stops, Devonna Bear Stops, Makai Thunder Hawk, Clay Longbrake, Laniah Red Horse, Vernell and Gloria Sitting Crow, Delores Bear Stops, Geraldine Bear Stops, Marlene Bear Stops, Norma Black Moon. She was very blessed to have many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, and all that came to the sun dance.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Fannie Bear Stops, her husband Vernon Red Horse, her siblings, Pete, Lena, Alice, Moses, Patrick, Henry, James, Celestine. nieces Lola Ann, Marie Bear Stops, nephew Gillis Bear Stops Sr., granddaughter Cheron Sitting Crow.