Funeral Service for Gary Michael HolyBull Sr., 67, of Eden, SD will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 12:00 P.M. at the Louie Johnson residence, Eden, SD (12290 Eastman Road) with Joe Circlebear, Louie Johnson, Robert MacArthur, and Thomas LaBlanc Jr. officiating. Drum group will be Buffalo Lake Singers. Pallbearers will be Duece Robert Larson Jr., Misun Hagen, Luke Johnson, Elias Quinn, Everett Blackthunder, Terran Williams, Tevon Hagen, Emmett HolyBull, Jeremiah Nelson, and Jacob LaBlanc. Honorary Pallbearers will be Everett Blackthunder, Sr., Louie and Sherry Johnson, Bob and Lavita Larson family, Linda Crawford, Russ and Tina Eberhardt and family, Catherine Thompson, Marie Renville, Cante Pte Society, Mark and Mitch Hill, Dr. Dan and Becky Foster and family, Anderson/Taylor/Fisherman and family, Leah Fyten and family, Lori Nelson family, Kevin Jensvold, Dusty Arrendonda, Richard Red Elk, Jimmy Smith, Butch Larson, Maxine Jacques, Albert Jacques, Harold and Shelley Blacksmith, Robert McArthur, Jr., Wanda Johnson, Olivia Johnson, Cynthia Starr, Ron Brant and family, Stacey Brant, Sr. and family, Geri Good Shot, Kenneth Johnson and family, Justice Wabasha, Nate Wabasha, Diane and Gabe Derosier, Darwin Bernard, Delmer Bernard, Darren Crawford, Mindy Crawford and family, King Family, Nadine Labelle and family, Kaylene Labelle and family, Darla King, Galen Renville and family, Robert Renville and family, Misty Renville and family, Maria Redday family,Veronica Holy, Sue Thompson, Jenny Fluery, Ed RedOwl, Mike Selvage, Sue Kipp, Sheldon Kipp, Pauline Kipp, Alden Whiteman, Tonya Whiteman, Henrietta Mann, Linda Wabasha, Cook family, Lisa Redwing and family, Thomas LaBlanc- Buffalo Lake Sundance Pipe Keeper, Terran Williams- Buffalo Lake Sundance Drum Keeper, Zane White- Buffalo Lake Sundance Staff Keeper, Vernon Renville – Buffalo Lake Sundance Fire Keeper, Russ Eberhardt – Buffalo Lake Sundance Lodge Keeper, Wakanyan Inazin Bertsch/Carolyn Soles – Food Keeper, All of the Sundancers and Family of the Buffalo Lake Sundance, All of the Sundancers and Family of the Morton Sundance. Interment will be at Buffalo Lake Presbyterian Cemetery Eden, SD. Wake Service will be held at the Louie Johnson residence on Thursday, and Friday, August 13, and 14 starting at 7:00 P.M. The Cahill Funeral Chapel in Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Gary was born on March 18, 1953 in Bridger, South Dakota to Veronica Holy Bull and Emmett Shoots Off. He was raised and attended elementary and high school on the Cheyenne River Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Gary later moved to Sisseton where he met his wife, Rita Brant. They married in 1979 and lived in the Sisseton area for many years. They moved to the Morton Community and lived there until Rita died in 2001. In early adulthood, Gary worked for the Cheyenne River Lakota Tribe, in Eagle Butte, South Dakota where he served as a para-professional legal aide in the Tribal Court. Gary assisted in sponsoring youth projects and activities stressing traditional Native American cultural values and practices among various tribes. He served as a Consultant and Spiritual Advisor to the Association on American Indian Affairs regarding the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978. Gary also served as a Consultant and Traditional Spiritual Advisor to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation Cultural Affairs Committee. In doing this, he was a leader in the repatriation of remains of Native Americans taken from their homelands in the late 1800's. In this capacity, he and his wife, Rita, also developed and implemented a unique Youth Role Modeling Project in the Buffalo Lake/Red Iron Community that worked with 85 youth. The focus was on traditional songs and dances. Additionally, he provided Spiritual and Traditional guidance to Local, State and National organizations and traveled to many other Countries while doing his work. Gary was not only a facilitator of traditional religious ways of the Dakota/Lakota people but also the cultural ways of life, history, values, music, and dances of our people. His parents and his wife, Rita, preceded Gary HolyBull in death. He is survived by one brother, Joe Circle Bear and four sons; Ron, Kiyanku, Gary, Jr., Emmett, Thomas LaBlanc, and one daughter, Amanda and numerous grandchildren. Gary will be greatly missed by his family and friends