Funeral services for 71-year old Dianne Iron Bird are Wed, March 8, 2023 at 2:00 at Brother Rene Hall in Oglala, SD, with Sister Barb Bogenschutz officiating and All Spiritual Leaders Welcome to join traditional Lakota services.
Burial will be at a later date.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
A two-night wake service starts Monday, March 6, at 3:00 at Brother Rene Hall in Oglala.
Dianne Iron Bird was born in her home in a log cabin north of Manderson, SD on Jan 25, 1952 to Ambrose New Holy Sr and Keva (Ghost) New Holy. Dianne made her journey to the Spirit World on Feb 13, 2023 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Diane grew up in Manderson, where she attended Manderson Day School. She walked 4 miles to school with her older sister and younger brother until Grandpa New Holy gave them a white horse to ride. Later, she attended OCS (Oglala Community School) and went on to get her GED in Boise, ID.
Diane acquired her degree in Social Services from UTEC and went on to work for OST Headstart, at IHS as a tech in the OR Dept, a social worker for for the elderly for the State of South Dakota, a CHR representative for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and as also an OST Child Care Provider.
Diane met Ben Smith, whom she called her “Hero”, and together they raised 6 of her grandchildren and 2 of her great-grandchildren. They participated in the Volksmarch Hike at the Crazy Horse Memorial and attended many running events across the state of South Dakota.
They were a part of the Water Protectors for NO DAPL XXL PIPELINE in Bismarck, ND, and attended a lot of Memorial Rides – The Big Foot Riders, Little Bighorn Riders, Treaty Riders, Crazy Horse Riders, in support of her grandsons, brothers, and in-laws.
Diane is survived by her spouse Ben Smith; her children Wesley New Holy Sr, Elmer Yellow Hair Jr, Elliot Yellow Hair Sr, Eric Yellow Hawk, Mikiyela Yellow Hair, and Eldon Yellow Hair; siblings Nancy Marshall, Judy New Holy, Trudy New Holy, Mariane Robins, Jamie Redman, Paula Poriteus, Charles New Holy, and Jeff McDonald; hunka daughter Misty Yellow Bull; 16 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Dianne was preceded in death by her parents Ambrose New Holy Sr and Keva (Ghost) New Holy; grandparents Joseph New Holy Sr, Julia Kills At Lodge, Frank Ghost, and Julia Jones; her siblings Andrea New Holy, Eileen Moves Camp, Gary New Holy, Raymond New Holy, Ambrose New Holy Jr, Ruby New Holy, Sharon Arrowchais, twin brothers Lechan & Wakan, and Baby Boy New Holy; her grandson Elliot Yellow Hair Jr; great-grandchildren Kira Rey Yellow Hair and Benton Jameis Ten Fingers.
Pallbearers will be EImer Yellow Hair III, Lionel Yellow Hair, Tokahe Mani Yellow Hair, Kyren Yellow Hair, Wesley New Holy Jr, Donovan Good Shield, Stanley Standing Bear, and Ben Williams
Honorary pallbearers will be the COVID 19 Response Team, Heather Wood, Bernadine Sitting Holy, Farrell “Bodie” Weston, Latoya Crazy Bull, Sally Kormendy, Dianna Pope, Sue Anderson, Karen Innes, MaryAnn and Derek Robins, Allen Morin, Judy Peters and Family, Candace Woods-Cardinal, Carly Espinosa, Cathy Niehues, Cecelia Lapointe, Deanna Big Crow, Dawn Iron Road, Shirley Iron Road, Krystal New Holy, Dwayne Wilcox, Scott Pruyn, Misty, Louise, Jason & Perry Ashawasegai, Olen Zephier, Renna Sansouci, Wilbur Bad Yellows Hair & Family, Veronica Jones, Violet Waters, Daus, Marlys, LeAnn Rabbit & Family, Annie & Allen Smith, Richard Schappell, Freda Patton, Pam, Sheriff & Bree Abaza, Cheryl Crow, Ruth Dreamer, AIl Ghost Relatives, All Yellow Hair Relatives, All New Holy Relatives, All White Bull Relatives, Sicangu Oyate ki lyanka, and all those who came to pray for her and with her.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD