Funeral services for Vernon Shelton, 103, of rural Little Eagle will be at 11 AM, CT, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Messiah Church, rural Little Eagle. A procession will leave Kesling Funeral Home at 9 AM Tuesday. Burial will be at the Cross Bear/ White Shield Family Cemetery. Visitation will start at 5 PM Monday with a prayer service at 7 PM at Kesling Funeral Home. Vernon passed away Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Avera McKennon Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Vernon Marvin Shelton (Mahto Tipila) was born on April 6, 1923, in Crook County, Wyoming under Devils Tower (Mahto Tipila/Bears House) where he got his namesake to Marvin Shelton and Cecilia Shelton/Benoist. Cecilia and young Vern moved home where they lived with his grandmother.

Cecilia married a Blue Arm where he lived in Cherry Creek until Vernon enlisted in the United States Army. Vernon had to have his mother sign papers to enter into the Army as he was underage. Vernon served 4 years in the Army during WWII.

Vernon was Honorably Discharged and moved home to Cherry Creek. When his mother Cecelia passed Vernon re-enlisted in what was called the Army Air Corps. The Air Corps changed and became known as the Air Force.

Vernon trained in the same unit and Aircraft as the Anola Gay (who dropped the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan). Vernon received many letters of accommodations one of which he was credited with upgrading radio operations. Upgrades critical to the war. Vernon was also a POW and escaped a POW Camp where they were beginning to execute Prisoners. He believed he was the only survivor. A time that haunted him most of his life.

Vernon never liked to talk about his time in the Service. Accounts were only from those disclosed to his daughters when they were very young. Those times of PTSD drove him to the Casinos. Where he became very good at winning.

Vernon was Honorably Discharged from what became the Air Force. He had attained the rank of Tech Sargent. Upon Discharged he returned to Cherry Creek and applied for work on Cheyenne River Reservation. He couldn’t find work, so he applied in Standing Rock where he worked the rest of his life.

Vernon worked on roads with the SRST and soon took a job with IHS Environmental Health Service where he worked until his retirement. During this time, he oversaw the building of most of the water and sewer systems on Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Reservations. Vernon retired from the IHS.

Vernon then began working as an Inspector for Interstate Engineering on the jobs pertaining to Standing Rock. Vernon made sure the Construction was done according to Specifications. He used to say he kept both the Contractor and SRST out of trouble by making sure they followed the Contract Specs. He would come home after a long day and sit at the table writing all the details of the day down. Every truck, how much the load was, the grades, slump test. He was very meticulous.

Some of the projects he oversaw were; the SRST Building, countless bridges, many road projects, lagune projects, housing infrastructure such as roads, sewers and waterlines. Vernon’s last project was the All Nations Cemetery on the North and South Dakota border where he finally retired for good at the age of 96.

He then began work full time at the Grand River Casino and part time at Prairie Knights where he trained many Black Jack Dealers and beat many Slot Machines. Grandpa had learned how to win at the Casinos. He continued until age and health prevented him from going. We used to say he was going to his second home or work. He made many friends at the Casinos. He was like a celebrity when he went.

Vern met Mazie Cross Bear in 1973 and married her on July 25, 1980, in Pierrie SD. Vern adopted daughters Anetha Shelton/Wilkinson and Andrea Shelton/Talese. Vern and Mazie also Hunka’d (adopted)Trini Bird Necklace.

Vern made his home in Little Eagle SD until his passing. Vernon Shelton our patriarch, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather will be greatly missed.

Vernon Marvin Shelton passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026, at Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls SD. He is survived by his wife Mazie Cross Bear/Shelton, Cousins Russell Benoist family’s, Delores & Keith Curley, Benoist Families, Vans families, Daughters, Anetha (Douglas) Wilkinson, Andrea (Greg) Talese and son Trini (Chip) Bird Necklace. Grandchildren Taten Cross Bear, Michael(Brienna) Giegle, Alexia Giegle, Jody(Tomi) Wilkinson, Helen Wilkinson, Emanuella Wilkinson, Great Grand Children; Oliver Wilkinson, Dakota Wilkinson, Zhailey Charley, Zytavren Charley, Temperence Geigle, Mazie Jo Giegle, Vernon Giegle, Maggie Giegle, Theodore Wilkinson, Emanuel Douglas Wilkinson, Olivia Geigle, Jessie Dakota, Mish White Mountain, Mikal White Mountain, Mike White Mountain, Mateo White Mountain, Great Great granddaughter Ari Running Bear. Hunka Relatives Adryne Two Hearts, Maria Rodriques, Cisco White Buffalo, Delia Bird Horse, Michael Valdez, Shilo Cadotte, Joshua Dunn and Melinda Walking Eagle.

Vernon was proceeded in death by his father Marvin Shelton, mother Cecilia Benoist, brother’s Gary Blue Arm, Buford Blue Arm, Nephew Andrew Blue Arm. Uncle Douglas Benoist and Aunt Marguerite Benoist(Mewhirter), Cousin Donovan Benoist, Sanford Gabe, MarieGabe(Mewhirter), nephew Dirk Long, Kevin Gabe, niece Cheryle Gabe(Davidson), Grandson Dustin Wilkinson, Kyann White Owl, Great Grandson Till Wilkinson

Grandpa was 103 years old and it was impossible to remember all the relatives. We apologize if we left anyone out.