Funeral services for Ervene Michele Palmier are Saturday, October 31, 2020 at noon at the St. Stephen’s Catholic Cemetery in Kyle, SD, with Father Ron Seminara, S.J., officiating and traditional Lakota services by George Apple
Visitation will precede the service Saturday morning from 10:00 – noon, also at St. Stephen’s Catholic Cemetery in Kyle
Cremation to follow services with burial at St. Stephen’s Catholic Cemetery at a later date.
Ervene Michele Palmier was born on August 22, 1943 in Oregon to Louis Palmier and Zona Gallego. Ervene made her journey to the Spirit World on October 20, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD.
Ervene attended Oglala Community School for all her primary education. After graduation, she joined the military and worked as a dental assistant in Rapid City, South Dakota. Ervene then moved to San Diego, California on relocation where she lived for 40 years. During this time, she first trained as an air traffic controller and later she was the first Native American woman to attend and complete training as a respiratory therapist. In 1993, Ervene retired from her work at UCSD Medical Center. She worked in home healthcare for several years after that. Ervene and her son Rudy returned to Medicine Root in 2002 and she went to work at Little Wound School. She worked there for 10 years and then retired for a second time in 2017. After that, Ervene enjoyed staying home with Rudy and her rabbits Bambi and Thumper whom she loved with all her heart.
Ervene is survived by her son, Rudy Palmier of Kyle, SD.
Ervene was preceded in death by her parents, Louis Palmier and Zona Gallego; and brother, Charles “Oscar” Palmier.
Pallbearers will be Mark Hetzel, George Apple, Mike Kieffe, Richard Apple, James Christensen, and Robin Janis.
Honorary pallbearers will be all Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD