Earlen "Woody" Alfred Spider, 68, of Sisseton, SD passed away on February 27, 2018 in Watertown, SD. Funeral Services will be Monday, March 5, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the SWO Community Center in Agency Village, SD. Jr. Heminger CLP, John Cloud, and Butch Felix will officiate with Betty Neilan as the pianist and the Drum Group Dakota Nation. Pallbearers will be Sam Williams, Travis Groves, Terry "Chubs" Spider, Harley Spider, Kenny Kirk, and Joey Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Jacob Blacksmith, Edmond TwoStars and Cheryl, Irene Langdeaux and family, Joe and Sue Taylor, The DuMarce family, Donnie and June Backman and family, Darrell and Maxine Renville, Lily Runnels and family, Marks family, Cloud family, Joan Spider and family, Lydia, Faith, and Amos Spider, Dorothy Farmer, Norbit and Bonnie Bellonger, Donald Grinnes and Mary Higheagle. Wake Services will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. and Sunday, March 4, 2018 all night starting at 7:00 P.M. at the SWO Community Center. Interment will be held at Ascension Presbyterian Cemetery in Big Coulee, SD. The Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Earlen Alfred Spider was born on June 30, 1949 at Sisseton, SD to Alfred and Geraldine (Williams) Spider. Earlen attended school at Spring Grove country school, Wilmot Public School and Flandreau Indian School. He then attended Ronan Job Corp Center in Montana. Earl was baptized and was confirmed on March 24, 1967 at Ascension Presbyterian Church, in Big Coulee, SD. Earl moved to Watertown, SD where he worked at Dakota Poultry for a number of years. He also worked for various farmers in the Wilmot area. Earl worked in western South Dakota shearing sheep and hauling bales. Earl lived in Sioux Falls, SD, Redwing, MN, and in the Prairie Island community. Earl was married to Beatrice Taylor. The couple lived in Prairie Island for several years. Beatrice passed away and he moved back to Sisseton, SD. An accident confined Earl to a wheelchair later in life and he lived in the Sisseton Hi-Rise, Agency Village Elderly Complex, and as his health failed the Tekakwitha Nursing Center, Wilmot Community Home, and his last residence was at the Golden Rehab Center in Watertown, SD, where he passed away on February 27, 2018.

Earl was quite the storyteller, he enjoyed being in the country, having cook outs with family, and just sitting and visiting. He also enjoyed traveling. Earl enjoyed Bingo, word puzzles, playing cards, watching TV, especially the rodeo channel. He enjoyed sports, and in his earlier years he played softball as a catcher with the Big Coulee team, and old western movies.

Earl is survived by his brothers, Maurice of Agency Village, SD, Myron Williams and family of Sisseton, SD, Scott Tohocoka of Sisseton, SD, Sisters, Lola Spider and family of Wilmot, SD, and LaVonne Spider and family of Watertown, SD. numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other close relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Daniel "Skip", and Rodney Dale, Sisters, Bonita, Lola, and Alfreda, his niece Melissa, and nephews Wesley and Scott.