Funeral services for 80-year old Emily “Sitter” Deon are Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 11:00 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pine Ridge, SD, with Joyce Tibbitts officiating and traditional Lakota Services by Joe Swift Bird
Cremation will follow with graveside services to be held at a later date.
A one-night wake service starts at 2:00 PM, Monday, June 26, 2023 at 2:00 at Sacred Heart Catholic in Pine Ridge with evening prayers at 7:00 PM.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com.
Emily Ann “Sitter” Deon “Waáwaŋglake Wiŋ (Guardian Woman) was born to Mamie (Palmier) and Frank Steele on April 8, 1943, in Rockyford, SD. She was the youngest of 14 siblings. Emily passed away at her home in Pine Ridge, SD on June 19, 2023.
Emily grew up in the Gunnery Range area of the badlands and later moved to Pine Ridge. She attended elementary school at Holy Rosary Mission, then Oglala Community School in her middle and high school years.
Emily completed her GED later in life and received her AA in Chemical Dependency Counseling as she dedicated 37 years to the Pine Ridge Girls Dormitory. She loved her job and making the dormitory a comfortable and happy home for children.
She and the rest of the staff became close friends and a family. Together, they guided and nurtured many children throughout their school years. Emily cared for every child who came through their doors. She was their Guardian in this life and will continue to be their Guardian in Spirit.
Sitter loved her family and was always concerned with everyone’s well-being and whereabouts. She was a kind, loving, spiritual, giving and happy person who was always willing to help someone in some way.
Through the years, she was surrounded, loved, and cared for by her family. She enjoyed gatherings and visits, but especially loved razzing her grandkids for a laugh together.
Sitter also enjoyed scrolling Facebook and watching her favorite shows – Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, The Good Doctor and The Bachelorette.
Our “Guardian of ALL” and “The Queen of Everything,” Emily is survived by her daughters Dawn Deon, Denise Mesteth (Gilbert), and DeeAnn Deon; Hunka daughter Carol Hill; grandchildren Jennifer Deon, Danielle (Nellie) Bettelyoun (Jason), Demcie Mesteth, Talon Mesteth, Earl Brewer (Casina), Dustin Brewer (Stephanie), Riana Brewer, Blaine Leftwich, Bryce Leftwich (Nicole), Frank Steele (Brittany), Jamie Steele, Deidra Steele, Joe Steele, Duncan Deon Jr, Stacy Hill, Darrell Hill, Brittany Hill.
She’s also survived by great-grandchildren Mason Deon, Madison Hernandez, Bradley Deon, Bryson Deon, Sophia Deon, Cairo Brewer, Alex Brewer, Aries Brewer, Theresa Red Cloud-Brewer, Rilyn Leftwich, Rhys Leftwich, Oliver, Avalon Leftwich, Matthew Steele, Scarlett Steele, Emily Steele, Duncan Steele Jr., Nevaeh Steele, Michael James Steele, Mariah Steele, Kobe Steele, Layla Vocu, Rosie Deon, Cori Deon, Daniel Deon, Duncan Deon III, Coleah Deon, Aiden Deon, Natascha Vollmer, Jeremiah Morton, Tristan Morton, Braydin Morton, Kordel Morton, Jazzell Morton, Drea Morton, Dayna Morton and Jace Morton; her brother Eldon Steele Sr; many nieces and nephews; and Granddogs Alice, Jupiter, Thanos, Debo, Envy, Boy, and Nola.
Sitter was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Catherine Mamie Palmier- Steele; sons James Steele and Duncan Deon Sr; grandsons Duncan Steele and James Morton; brothers Chester, Larry, Gary, Josh, and Frank Jr Yellow Bird Steele; sisters Beulah, Hermine (Thompson), Josephine, Delores (Hawkins), Fern, Francis May, and Ione Yellow Bird Steele; and Her precious companions EI, Freddy, and Jon Jon.
Special Friends who preceded her in death and now welcome her include Bernadine and Herb Colhoff, Bernice Brown Eyes, Alvina Brewer, Gail Red Hawk, Rita Buckman, Darlene Kelly, Erna Crazy Thunder, Herb Rouleaux, Lenora Watters, Gladys Ecoffey, Elfreda Amiotte, Sis Ecoffey, Greta Mae Brown, Ginger Vitalis, and Virgil Colhoff.
Pallbearers will be Earl Brewer, Blaine Leftwich, Bryce Leftwich, Dustin Brewer, Demcie Mesteth and Joe Steele.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eldon and Vina Steele Family, Allie Bad Heart Bull, Jenny Richards, Audrey Backward, Thelma Backward, Kathy Dillon, Sherry O’Rourke, Ann (Shangreaux) Conroy, Dorothy Tyon, Brown Eyes family, Helena (Babe) Little, Lynn Gallego Family (Stevie & Jim, Becky, and Brooke), Frankee White Dress and Family, Joyce Bear Robe and family, Suzy Brown, Dawn, Marsha, and Gwen Colhoff, Sandy, Karla, Darcy, & Gilbert & Family, Cuny Families, John and Anna Steele family, Fern Apple and family, Josh Steele and family, Sherry and Garry Steele and family, Betty Little Dog and family, Darla Swain and family, Michelle (Peaches) Yellow BirdSteele, Kelly Canby, Rolanda High Hawk, Loretta Red Feather, Jackie Black Bear, Suzy Mesteth, Leat Brewer and family, Liz and Dave Leftwich, Ettamae & Dianna Runnels, LD Hernandez and family, Sis & Carol Vitalis family, Swiftbird Families, JD and Pinky Plume, Partnership for Housing, OLAR Flight Crew, Missouri Breaks Staff, Stillwater Hospice of South Dakota Staff, CHR Staff and Meals for the Elderly.
Thank you to our Colorado Families for their love and support during our time at the Medical Center of Aurora. Also, all past dorm kids whose lives were touched and made better by Sitter.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD