Funeral services for Edwin James Barker, 62, of Sisseton, SD will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 11:00 AM at the Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD, with the Rev. Floyd Hart and Rev. Dwight Fearing officiating. Interment will be in the Mayasan Presbyterian Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. Organist will be Mary Beth Kirk with special music by Butch Felix. Pallbearers will be Brendon, Brian, Ronald, Russell, and Anthony Barker Jr., Desmond Renville, Cedric Robertson, Scotty LaMere and Glen Robertson Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric and Stacey LeBlanc Jr., Darrell Renville, Dennis Keeble, and Lester Crawford, Stanley Lufkins, Gilbert Robertson, Leslie Hewitt, Irene Renville, Dana Wilson, and Rosebud Marshall. Military rites will be provided by the Kit Fox Society. There will be wake services on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM with an all night wake on Friday, January 16, 2009 starting at 7:00 P.M. at the Tribal Community Center.
Edwin was born on July 27, 1946 to Doris Barker Robertson in Sisseton, SD. He went to grade school in the Sisseton area until he was sent to the Pierre Indian School. He later attended Flandreau Indian School and graduated from Sisseton High School in 1965. He left Sisseton for the Relocation plan in Los Angeles, CA. He entered the U.S. Army on October 27, 1965 and served until February 15, l969. Edwin was a heavy equipment operator in Germany and later was ordered to Vietnam. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 overseas bars. After his discharge Edwin went to Chicago where his brother Anthony lived. He worked at various jobs until returning to Sisseton in 1970. Edwin was involved in a terrible car accident receiving injuries he had until his death. Edwin traveled for several years returning to Sisseton and married Loticia Ree on April 4, 1981, they divorced in 1989 and were remarried on October 30, 1998 at Sisseton, SD. Edwin worked for the Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority and later he worked as a motor vehicle operator/housekeeping for the Indian Health Service until his retirement in 2006. Edwin was a member of Mayasan Presbyterian Church and was treasurer of the Mayasan board of trustees. During a routine checkup Edwin was diagnosed with cancer. He was at the Roger Maris Cancer Center for several months for radiation and chemo treatments. Edwin returned home for his final days with his wife Loticia as his caregiver. Edwin died at his home on January 10, 2009, with his loving family at his side. His battle with cancer is over and he is finally at rest.
Edwin is survived by his wife, Loticia of Sisseton, SD, and his mother Doris Barker Robertson of Sisseton, SD; One god-daughter Melissa Irizarry of Sisseton, SD; Four brothers, Donald Barker of White River, AZ; Anthony Barker, Gordon and Glen Robertson all of Sisseton, SD and one sister, Paula Renville of Sisseton, SD, two step grandchildren, Justin Wind Hayes of Eden Prairie, MN and Sharay Hayes of Minneapolis, MN, and step great grandchildren, Isiah LaBlanc, Ashton Irizarry, Nathaniel Blue, Merrith Irizarry and Milena Irizarry all of Sisseton, SD, and a host of extended family.
Edwin was preceded in death by his grandparents, one brother Lee and 2 infant sisters, and two step-sons Nathaniel and Darius.