Funeral services for 85-year old Spyna Jessie Brave Eagle are Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Kyle Community Church in Kyle, SD, with traditional Lakota services by Delane Has No Horse
Burial is at St Barnabas Episcopal Cemetery in Kyle
Visitation precedes the funeral from 10:00-1:00, also at the Kyle Community Church
Spyna Jessie (Her Many Horses Woman) Brave Eagle-Gemberling was born on October 14, 1935 to Matilda Nora Salway and Isaac Brave Eagle, Sr. in Pine Ridge, SD. Spyna made her journey to the Spirit World on January 3, 2021 at the Honor Health Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ.
Jessie was raised at Red Water Creek east of Little Wound, SD. Jessie attended Oglala Community Boarding School and later went to Brainerd Boarding School before returning to OCS and graduating in 1956. She eventually furthered her education at Haskell Jr. College in Lawrence, KS.
As a child, she enjoyed riding horses, and while attending Haskell she joined the rodeo club. She was eventually voted in as the Rodeo Club Queen of Haskell.
After returning home, she met Robert Gemberling in Rapid City, SD. They were blessed with two children, Kimberly and Robert.
Jessie traveled around the nation with her family as a homemaker while her husband completed his duty to the Air Force. She home schooled her children and was a devout Jehovah Witness.
Jessie is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Gemberling; son, Robert (Cindy) Gemberling of Scottsdale, AZ; sisters, Dorothy (Dr. AC Ross) Brave Eagle of Rapid City, SD, Ruby Brave Eagle of Denver, CO, and Imogene Roy of Little Wound, SD; brother, Franklin Forward of Little Wound, SD; 6 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
Jessie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Charles and Jesse (LaDeaux) Salway and Oscar and Emma (White Face) Brave Eagle; sisters, Eldene and Elaine Joyce Brave Eagle; brothers, Oscar “Sonny” Brave Eagle, Douglas Brave Eagle, and Isaac Brave Eagle, Jr.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Brave Eagle, Terry Bull Bear, Kirby Kills Straight, Scotty Roy, Wallace White Dress, Jr., Milton Around Him, and Louis Vocu.
Honorary pallbearers will be all Family, Friends, & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD