Funeral services for Shirley Marvin age 80 of McLaughlin will be at 10 AM, CT, Wednesday December 12, 2018 at the McLaughlin Blue Gym. Shirley passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at Mobridge Regional Hospital. Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge of Mobridge is in charge of arrangements.

In 1968, Shirley began her employment and educational career, 1970, she obtained her Bachelors of Science Degree from Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD and began course work towards her Master's Degree. One of her first jobs was working as a Teacher at Wakpala, SD.

Every program Shirley worked for, she improved upon the program to provide better services for the Native American population.

Shirley has always been a self-motivated and determined individual. She dedicated her entire life to helping and advocating for our people in the way of grant writing and accessing our creating services to meet the un-met needs of the Oyate.

She fought hard and succeeded in developing the SRST Elderly Needs Assistance program, She was a strong and forceful Advocate that brought about change at the Tribal, State, and Federal Levels of Government.

Shirley was a great writer and wrote numerous grants that were always funded She had many accomplishments through her life. She established, the WAPA Assistance for the SRST Elders, she was a strong and forceful Advocate for the SRST Tribal Elders and members, as well as for all Native Americans.

She developed the first Treaty Council for SRST, Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council; she formed the National Council on Ageing Elder Council on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which is a very strong, very influential and very active Council, who are very knowledgeable, respectful, and dignified members.

Shirley was very vocal and strongly focused while she helped the Elders and all members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to receive much needed improved Medical Health Care, Individual Assistance, and in the Tribal Protections Aspects.

Shirley was a very intelligent, hardworking, fearless Akitica Hunkpapa Winyan, She experienced the historical trauma many of our people have to survive through by the Catholicism Era of abuse and assault as well as being torn from her family and being placed in the boarding school and yet she endeavored and persevered through these hard times and made the lives of the Elders a little bit easier, as well as protecting her siblings and peers while in boarding school from the Nuns.

Shirley always stood and fought against any unjust proposed laws, policies, or acts that would threaten the sovereignty of the Treaties or Jurisdiction of the Tribes and resources. She was an avid and dedicated Grand River Casino Gold Club member. That was a part of her life that she enjoyed (come on Hot Dogs!)

Shirley worked for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Natural Resources Program prior to retiring. She worked as a grant writer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Tribe and the Wind River Reservation in Ethete, Wyoming. The most recent grant Shirley worked on was in 2007, a meth prevention grant for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe which was awarded in the amount of $314,000.00

Shirley worked for the Black Hills State University and Huron State University early on in her work career, recruiting Indian people for these colleges. She taught college classes at a local community college and worked in various capacities for United Sioux Tribes.

In 1977, Shirley established her own small business. "Arrowhead Enterprises", in which she was the sole owner and manager. She was a registered lobbyist for the Black Hills State University with the State of South Dakota. Shirley served in various boards and committees involving education and Indian people. Among these boards, she served as the National Chairwoman for Special Services for Upward Bound and Talent Search for Indian Organizations and Vice-President for Indian Women's Club of Rapid City, South Dakota, to name a few. Shirley was instrumental in starting the first "Indian Student Newspaper" at Black Hills State University.

In 1981, Shirley was selected to be featured as a successful Indian Woman in OHOYO, a National Indian Women's Consultant Magazine.

Shirley was also a member of the "North American Indian Women's Association"

Shirley is survived by her spouse, Raoul Marvin, California,

Oldest Daughter Lynn Provost - Eagle Butte SD,

Takoja Desiree Blue Arm Swann (Nick)-Boxelder SD,

Takoja Daemon Blue Arm-Eagle Butte SD,

Takoja Cody (Virginia) High Elk-Eagle Butte SD,

Takoja Tyson (Farrah) Heideman-Ft. Pierre SD,

Takoja Joshua (Paisha) Heideman- Bear Creek SD,

Daughter Deanna Provost (Richard)-Martin SD,

Takoja Little Fawn Provost (Albert)-Chicago IL,

Takoja Paul Stover- Atlanta GA,

Takoja Michael (Brianne) Stover -Mobridge SD,

Takoja Collins Provost (Jeremy)-Rapid City SD,

Takoja Erin Provost (Tyler)-Rapid City SD,

Daughter Maria Provost-Mclaughlin SD,

Takoja Shyloe Shangreaux-McLaughlin SD,

Takoja Natasha Shangreaux-McLaughlin SD,

Takoja Jordan (Tabitha) Thompson-Mclaughlin SD,

Takoja DeeShae Provost-Mclaughlin SD,

Takoja Deanna Bear Runner-Mclaughlin SD,

Takoja Apalonia Bear Runner-Rapid City SD,

Takoja Makoce Bear Runner Monroe (Shawn)- Lawrence, KS

Daughter Loretta Stone (Brianna)-Mobridge, SD

Takoja Aden Stone (Damien)-Mobridge, SD

Takoja Parker Mentz-Mobridge, SD

Hunka Son Merle Whistler-Kyle, SD

Takoja Winona Whistler-Kyle, SD

Takoja Misty Whistler-Rapid City, SD

Takoja, Collette Whistler-Rapid City, SD

Takoja Julian Whistler-Rapid City, SD

Takoja Sean Whistler- Rapid City, SD

Hunka Son Amos Cook (Phyllis)-Eagle Butte, SD

Hunka Sister, Faith Taken Alive & Family

And numerous Great-Grandchildren

SHIRLEY JUNE AGARD MARVIN was preceded in death by step-father, Lewis Agard, mother, Blanch Agard, Father, Doug Skye Sr., Numerous Brothers and Sisters, Terry Provost (Son), James Dawson Stover (Takoja), and Mariah Bear Runner (Takoja).