December 19, 1952 – July 26, 2022
FORT YATES – Earl M. Silk, 69 journeyed to the Spirit World on July 26, 2022, at the IHS in Fort Yates, ND surrounded by family.
Earl Murphy August Silk was born on December 19, 1952, to Genevieve Brought Plenty and John W. Silk, in Rapid City, SD.
Earl was raised and educated in Fort Yates, ND. He graduated from Standing Rock Community High School in 1971. After graduation he attended college at Haskell Indian Junior College in Lawrence, KS, earning an Associate of Arts degree in 1975.
In August of 1973, he met Helen McCauley, and on June 4, 1974, they became husband and wife. From this union they had six children— Jessica, Emily, Jenna, Brigitte, Malachi, and Joshua. They recently celebrated their 48th anniversary on June 4, 2022, surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Earl, Helen, and Jessica moved to Lower Brule, SD in 1977. It was during this time that Earl enrolled at the University of South Dakota and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in May of 1980. Later that year, he returned home to Standing Rock with his family. He lived with his wife in Fort Yates, ND until the time of his passing.
Earl had the pleasure of working for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe for twelve years. He served four years on the Tribal Council and worked many years for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Tribal Operations, as a Contract Administrator–Contract Specialist, Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Superintendent for the Standing Rock Agency, and Superintendent for the Fort Berthold Agency in New Town, ND. Earl was a natural born leader. He was so ambitious and always wanted to gain knowledge in everything that he did.
Earl was an avid martial arts fan. He took Judo while he was a student at the University of South Dakota. He was very proud of winning 1st place in a tournament that he competed in, in Kansas City, MO. He eventually started taking Tae Kwon Do classed at Rough Rider Martial Arts and studied under Grand Master Ted Fitzsimmons. He earned his 1st and 2nd degree black belts and opened his own martial arts school for the people of Standing Rock. Earl loved to fish and hunt. When he had his Bayliner boat, he would spend hours with his family out on the Missouri river. He definitely had a green thumb. He spent endless amounts of time working in his yard.
Earl accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during the Lent season in 1984.
Earl is survived by his wife, Helen. Daughters; Tarita Silk, Spearfish, SD, Jessica Silk (Nadhum), Mandan, ND, Emily (Kris) Thomas, Fort Yates, ND, Jenna Silk, Bismarck, ND, Brigitte Silk, Rapid City, SD. Sons; Malachi and Joshua Silk, Fort Yates, ND. Grandchildren; Brooke, Kaylie, Chance, Heather, Lacey, Ali, Shaun, Kristopher, Jacob, Jonah, Michael, Malachi, Layne, Brendan, Matisyn, Maximus, Alexander, Benjamin, Luke, Apollo, Kaliyah, Joshua, Tesan, and Zephaniah. Great Grandchildren; Kam, Brielle, Maliyah, Ricco, Bryson, Kendall, and Addison. Sisters; Aurelia Silk, Fort Yates, ND, Vina (Gary) Snider, Bullhead City, AZ. Brothers; Christopher and Roland Silk, Fort Yates, ND, and Carl Silk, Bismarck, ND.
He was proceeded in death by his very special granddaughter/daughter Bre’Anna Silk, whom he loved with his whole heart and raised as his own daughter. His parents; Genevieve Brought Plenty and John W. Silk. Siblings; Elizabeth (Silk) Gullickson, Audrey (Silk) Leingang, Edith, Wanda, and Mary Silk. Brothers; Charles Silk and Carl Silk, Kenny Brought Plenty, Elwood and Ellsworth Silk. Maternal grandparents ; Lulu End Of Horn and August Brought Plenty. Paternal grandparents; Bridget (Halsey) and John Silk.
Special thank you to the Nurses and Doctors at the Indian Health Service in Fort Yates, ND along with the EMS and Paramedics. Sanford Medical centers in Bismarck, ND and Fargo, ND,
Funeral Mass for Earl M. Silk, age 69, of Fort Yates, ND were at 1:00PM CST on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at St. Peters Catholic Church in Fort Yates, ND. A Rosary service took place at 7:00 PM CST on Monday, August 1, 2022 at the St. Peters Catholic Church in Fort Yates, ND
Arrangements were entrusted to Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge, SD.
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