Funeral services for Melody (Clausen) Arpan, 60, of Dupree, SD, will be held at 10:00 a.m. MT, Friday, September 25, 2015 at St. John's Episcopal Church of Eagle Butte, SD, with visitation to start one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at St. Paul's Episcopal Cemetery of Little Eagle, SD, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge, SD. Melody was found at her residence in Dupree on Sunday, September 20, 2015.

Melody Lynn Clausen-Arpan 60, born Charlotte Thunder Shield December 27, 1955, to Edith Thunder Shield and Dave Deiters of Eagle Butte, SD.
Melody was orphaned at approximately six-weeks of age when her mother, Edith Thunder Shield was killed in an automobile accident.
Melody was nurtured by her maternal grandmother, until the pressures of caring for multiple children required outside assistance.
Melody went to live with her paternal grandparents, Chester (Pat) and Leone Deiter.
At about six-months Melody came in the care and nurturing of Robert and Helen Clausen. She was eventually adopted. As a Clausen family member she was raised through her remaining development years.
Melody attended school at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte through the 11th grade.
She eventually earned a general equivalency diploma.
During her school years she was involved in 4-H, school sports and became accomplished on the piano and learned to sew well enough to make her own clothes.
As a 4-H member she developed a recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. When her fellow 4-Hers would achieve red and blue ribbons her cookies would consistently get the purple. When asked to share her recipe, she declined and kept her secret.
Melody mothered five children: Chastity Clausen, Bismarck ND, Michael Fast Horse, Bismarck, ND and Joseph Fast Horse, Wounded Knee, SD, Joyce Fast Horse, Martin, SD, and Gail Broncho Bill (Rico), Los Angeles.
After spending time in Los Angeles and at Pine Ridge, Melody and spent her remaining adult years in Eagle Butte and Dupree.
Melody was preceded in death by her mother, Edith Thunder Shield, father Dave Deiters, her maternal grandmother Frank and Annie White Buffalo, paternal grandparents (Pat and Leone Deiters), her adopted parents Robert and Helen Clausen, husband Rufus Fast Horse and husband Leonard Wolff.
She is survived by two sisters, Shirley White Bull, McLaughlin, SD and Brenda Two Shields, Sharon Thomas of Victoria, British Columbia, sister, Candase McNeal, Bellevue, NE, and brothers David Clausen, Weatherford, TX and Robert Clausen, Minneapolis, MN, and children Chastity Clausen, Bismarck, Michael and Joseph Fast Horse, Wounded Knee, Joyce, Martin Gayle Bronco Bill, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nephews and nieces, Phillip White Bull of Oregon City, OR, Corey Thomas, Joe Thomas Jr., Lorlei Thomas, of Victoria British Columbia, Melody Good House, Fort Yates, ND, Valerie Antelope of Aberdeen, SD, Ruby White Shield, of Fort Yates, ND, Marilyn White Shield, of Bismarck, ND, Prairie Rose White Buffalo, of McLaughlin, SD.