Sara Ellen Clifford was born on April 30, 1993 in Pine Ridge at the IHS Old Hospital with her twin sister in arrival with her, to Catherine “Sis” Clifford and Kevin Yellow Bird-Steele. Sara “Elly” our beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt, niece, granddaughter and friend made her journey in the Paha Sapa-Sheridan Lake.
Sara made her arrival with a waiting room full of her aunts, uncles, and grandparents whom were excited and anxious to meet her, as she shared her birthday with her maternal grandmother, Sharon and aunty Sandra Cuny. She was an adventurous child who loved sports, exploring White Horse Creek, Lonesome Valley and East of Porcupine with all her of cousins. From her childhood to adulthood, she lived in Rapid City, Pine Ridge, Porcupine, Albuquerque, and Manderson. Through her High School Years, she attended PRHS as well as Albuquerque HS and then completed her senior year at Little Wound HS. She played basketball in High School, as well for OLC; always being competitive when it came to playing basketball and then she fell in love with softball. Sara graduated from WDT with her AA in Allied Health, with a goal to be RN as she spent her years working as a CNA, and Med-Aide. She loved working as a travel CNA/Med-Aide with the opportunities she can explore with her own scheduling and picking the facilities she worked in as she always wanted to be available to her family and friends for birthdays and events. Her compassion, love and heart she had for elderly was shown working in the facilities she was in.
Sara took in 3 young boys as her hunka sons when losing their mother whom was her younger cousin, she made sure to show up and be there when she could for them and support them when needed. She loved them like her own children and gave them so much love.
Sara is survived by her special friend, Sunny Red Bear; son, Jariah Shane Stone; hunka sons, Leighton Jumping Eagle-Waters, Jace Jumping Eagle-Waters, and Messiah Jumping Eagle-Waters; her mother, Catherine “Sis” Clifford; father, Kevin Yellow Bird-Steele (Derek Cuny); hunka parents, Summer and Jim Whirlwind Horse; maternal grandmothers, Angie Clifford (Percy White Plume, Sr.), Penny Clifford, & Diane Jealous Of Him; maternal grandfathers, Daryl “Bitsy” Trueblood, Louis “Iggy” Jealous Of Him, Sr., and Waldron Jealous Of Him, Sr.; paternal grandmothers, Darla Swain (Rick Swain), Wanda Thayer, and Cynthia Plenty Arrows; paternal grandfather, John Yellow Bird-Steele (Anna); hunka grandparents, Delores & George Starr; siblings, Emma Patton (Shawn), Jo-El Clifford (CJ Returns), Louis Clifford (Nichole), and Louise Clifford; hunka siblings, Sayvon Mesteth, Gabriel Pulliam-Sanchez, Wicahpe Pulliam, James Whirlwind Horse, Caesar Whirlwind Horse, Jisela Whirlwind Horse, Niyan Whirlwind Horse, Willow Whirlwind Horse, Gunnarr Whirlwind Horse , Storhm Whirlwind Horse, Christa Cuny, Christopher Cuny, Tear Cottier, Ember Cottier, Ty Black Elk and Kyden Black Elk; nieces & nephews, Lainey Clifford, Batiste Patton, Oliver Patton, Aloysius Patton, Sebastian Patton, Clarence “c3” Returns From Scout III, Mykenzy Kelley, Matty Young, Zintkala Young, Layla Clifford, Olivia Clifford, Alexis Clifford, Mateo Clifford, Liam Clifford, Elena Clifford, Avery Mesteth, Samson Mesteth, and Emiliano Mesteth; aunts & uncles, Laura Clifford (Kenny Mills), Jon Clifford, Oglala Clifford, Donovan Steele (Lisa Steele), Tina Steele, Misty Swallow, Krystal Swallow, Nick Cottier ( Randy) , Nichole Cottier, Mikki Cuny (Chris Cuny), Billi Cottier(Dusty), Sandra Cuny (Ty Brewer), April Hussman, Sonia Bear Runner, Lora Catches, Jeffrey Catches, Peggy Sanchez (Primo), Duane “Ahta” Morgan, Daniel Clifford, Brandon Clifford, Angela Clifford, Eric Clifford, Chance Clifford, Natalie Pourier, Myron Pourier, Wamniyomni Bear Runner, Wakispe Bear Runner, Sam Bear Runner, Joseph Bear Runner, Yvette Jealous, Sam Jealous, Alice “Allie” Big Crow, Waylon Jealous, Tanya Jealous, Daphne Janis, Collen Steele, Dan Bear Runner, Jason Wolters, Ben Wolters (Simone Miyasato).
Sara is preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Sharon Twiss/Clifford and Dave C. Clifford; paternal grandfather, Franklin Steele; great grandparents, Ben Black Elk, Lula Two Bonnets, Kate Black Elk, Collins Clifford, Billy Twiss, Olivia Black Elk, Grace Black Elk-Mccoy, Ellen Bissonette, Bessie Rock, Madge Clifford, and Margaret Steele; and grandparents, Cleo Gates, Timothy “Rabb” Steele, Loren Ray Clifford, CJ Clifford, JT Twiss Sr., Betty O’Rourke, Debi Hall, Mason Kelly, Emmett Kelly, Heather Kelly, Davy Clifford, Chad Clifford, Jesse Jealous, Louis Jealous, Curtis Pourier JR & SR, Cody Pourier, Blaine Pourier, Alex Jealous, Dawn Jean Cuny, Baby Patton, Trey Lee Bad Milk, Jenn Jumping Eagle, Delano Jealous of Him, Cheri Jealous of Him and Debbie Jealus of Him.
Pallbearers will be CJ Returns From Scout, Jr., Shawn B. Patton, Bradley Hussman, Alan Jealous, JoBeth Morrisette, Terri Jo Haskell, Jessica Ladeaux, Carly Clifford, Tianna Scott, and Breezy Rae Witt.
Honorary Pallbearers are all her cousins, friends, Oyate Health Center, WDT College, Nursing coworkers and first responders who worked with Sara, Softball friends and family, and most importantly all of the children that came into her life and she saw as her own nieces and nephews. As we all know she had a heart of gold and children were her weakness and she can make everyone and anyone smile no matter what. Also so much more out there as we came from big families and she was known everywhere.
Wake Services: Two night wake service starting at 4:30 PM, Friday, August 14, 2026 at the Porcupine School Gymnasium in Porcupine, SD with evening services starting each night at 7:00 PM
Funeral Services: 1:00 PM, Sunday, August 16, 2026 at the Porcupine School Gymnasium in Porcupine, SD
Traditional Lakota Services: Matt Shoulders
Officiating: Pastor Waylon Jealous
Burial Services: St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery, Manderson, SD
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD