A Memorial Service/Giveaway will be held at a later date for 94-year old Alvina Brewer, but there will be visitation Tuesday, Nov 17, 2020 from 8-4:00 at the Vincent Brewer Sr residence near Pine Ridge, SD
Burial Services are 1:00 PM, Wednesday, Nov 18, 2020 at 1:00 at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD, with Charles McGaa officiating and traditional Lakota services by Mr Pat Janis and Mr Mike Carlow Jr.
Alvina’s family asks that everyone follow the guidelines of precautions against the spread of COVID 19 with masks and social distancing required. Please bring your own chair for the burial services.
Alvina (Larvie) Brewer “Ta Tiopa Wakan Win” (Sacred Door Woman) was born on February 6, 1926 in Martin, SD to Louie Larvie and Grace (Ruff) Larvie. Alvina made her journey to the Spirit World on November 10, 2020 at the Chadron Community Hospital in Chadron, NE.
Alvina was the youngest of four children. On the day she was born, there was a foot of snow on the ground. Her Mom and Dad rode in a wagon pulled by two mules named
Butch and Joe from Batesland to Martin. Her aunt, Vina Lessert assisted in the delivery and this is how she inherited her name. Her Aunt Vina was Dr. Walton’s nurse.
The family lived with Alvina’s grandparents until she was two years old in Batesland, SD and they relocated to the Black Hills area. She lived there until the age of 7 after her father’s death. She and her mom then moved to Pine Ridge, SD where she attended Oglala Community School. She also attended St. Mary’s Episcopal School and Haskell Indian School, where she graduated high school.
When she was about 16, she moved to Portland, Oregon, and lived with her sister Alice and brother-in-law Harold Snyder. She worked on the Shipyards and became a welder for one year. During her earlier years she learned to sew, garden, can vegetables and meat and became an excellent cook.
She met the love of her life, Vincent Brewer, and they married in 1946. They made their home in Pine Ridge, SD and in 1953, during the Relocation Era, they moved to Wilmington, California. At that time, they had 3 children.
They lived in California for five years, but were lonesome for the reservation and moved back in 1958 with two more children who were born in California. They were happy to be back home and one more child was born.
Alvina started working as a cook at the Pine Ridge Jail in 1959, then in 1961 started working at the Pine Ridge School as a Teacher Aide. She later transferred to the Pine Ridge Dormitory as a matron.
Alvina’s passion was working with the Boys and Girls of the Pine Ridge Reservation and dedicated her life to them for 24 years – retiring as a Girls Dormitory Manager. She had difficulty retiring.
She was very artistic and loved to make different crafty things for the dormitory and home. She taught her children to pray and believe. She also taught them our traditional values and how to cook the traditional foods.
Her and Vincent loved to garden and take care of the horses, cows, rabbits, geese, and chickens. They also loved to travel. She was married to Vincent for 69 years and was a very dedicated wife and mother. She will be missed dearly by her children and relatives.
Alvina is survived by her daughters, Alice(Tim) Bad Heart Bull, Frieda Brewer and Valora (Joy) Brewer; sons, Bryan Brewer Sr., Vincent Brewer Jr., and Harold Brewer Sr. (2); Hunka children, Jim and Alberta Miller and Gloria Goings; Brother-in-law, Dick Brewer; niece, VaLora Hansen; Sisters-in-laws, Alice (Babe) Brewer, Arlene Brewer, and Alma Brewer; Hunka sister, Gladys Thunder Hawk-Gay; Cousins, Seth & Frieda Irving; Grandchildren, Bryan Brewer, Jr., Brent Brewer, Kellee Brewer, Sky Brewer, Von(Anna) Gillette, Craig(Jessica) Bad Heart Bull, Matt Bad Heart Bull, Loren(Molly) Bad Heart Bull, Darren Bad Heart Bull, Nick Bad Heart Bull, Joy Lynn(Gabe Gibbons)Parton, Alice(Darrell) Hunter, Maverick (Anne)Valandra, Gwen Valandra, Tricia Tyon-Brewer, Tara Curry, Ty Schae Brewer, Schaevon Brewer, Grace Brewer, Harold Brewer, Jr., Cole Brewer and Bessie Brewer; 49 Great grandchildren and 6 Great-great grandchildren.
Alvina was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent Brewer, Sr.; parents, Louis Larvie and Grace (Ruff) Larvie; siblings, Douglas Larvie, Alice Snyder Larvie and Donald Larvie; children, Harold Brewer (1) and Michael Brewer; grandchildren, Raymond Brewer and Vinnie Brewer III; great grandson, Lucius Valandra, daughter-in-law, Carla (Red Fish) Brewer; nephew, Louis Snyder and all Brother-in-laws, Sister-in-laws and all nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Morris Brewer, Mike Carlow, Sr., Chuckles Janis, Carl Johnson, Phil Bettelyoun, Art Zimiga, Shorty Brewer, Charlie Zimiga, Ted Big Crow, Robert Charging Crow, Warren Giago, John Haas, Ernie Pourier and Bob Ecoffey.
Honorary pallbearers will be All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD