Edwina Catherine Cloud

Edwina Catherine Cloud, 71, Fort Yates, North Dakota, passed away Sunday, October 16, 2011, at the Baptist Nursing Home in Bismarck, ND. Visitation begins at 9:00 AM with a prayer service at 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 20, 2011, at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan, ND. Visitation continues at 10:00 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 PM, Friday October 21, 2011, at St. Michaels Catholic Church, St. Michaels, ND, with Fr. Bryan Moen officiating. Burial will be in St. Michaels Catholic Church Cemetery, St. Michaels, ND.

Edwina was born June 16, 1940, in Cannon Ball, ND to Steven Cloud and Mary Rattling Tail. Edwina was delivered at home by her Grandmother Eva Little Chief. She was raised and educated in Bismarck and Solen, attended Bathgate School for the Blind, and graduated from ND State School for the Blind, Grand Forks, ND. She also attended Minneapolis Technical Institute, and Sister Kenny Institute, Minneapolis, MN. Edwina worked for the Honeywell Company for several years before moving home to Standing Rock.

She enjoyed hook latch, crocheting, collecting and watching old western movies, listening to good old Country music. Some of her favorites were Ernest Tubb, Web Pierce, Hank Williams, George Jones, Gene Autry, Dale Evans, and Roy Rogers, whom she had the opportunity to meet in person in Mandan, ND. She loved and enjoyed listening to KLND Radio 89.5, especially to Virgil Taken Alive early in the morning because he would make her laugh.

Edwina loved her culture and spent a lot of time at pow-wows, family gatherings, and would camp out all weekend when possible, until she was no longer able to. Edwina lived in Bismarck, Solen, Ft. Totten, and Minneapolis and finally made her way back home to Fort Yates. She may have had handicaps with her vision and hearing, but never let that keep her down. She learned many skills and especially how to take care of herself and not depend on anyone. She was very organized, tidy, and neat. Those that knew her were amazed at how she kept her home, paperwork, cupboards, and personal items all in order. While living in Minneapolis she enjoyed lots of activities, shopping, riding the bus, working, and she was especially proud of being able to cross-country ski. When she moved back to Standing Rock she was like a fish out of water, because there are no services for the blind. Despite the many challenges that Edwina faced, she never let that stop her. She had her monthly routine of having her cousin Reva take her to town and Edwina would write out her list for Wal-Mart and groceries and off they would go; they had many crazy stories of their adventures together, especially eating and treating herself to a banana split on every trip.

Edwina enjoyed spending time with her family and relatives, who became very protective of her and loved and cared for her unconditionally until the time of her death. Edwina shared a lot of time with \u0027"Chepa\u0027 they would take drives, talk for hours on the phone, and of course eat. Edwina looked forward to her nephew Shawn coming to visit her every day to make sure she had breakfast and was well taken care of.

We want to say thank you to all those who cared for, spent time, and helped care for Edwina especially in her time of need. She was always a big part of our family and will be deeply missed. We want to thank Roz and Bernadine for transporting her to her appointments and to the St. Alexius Staff and Baptist Home Nurses for taking good care of her.

She is survived by one son George Cloud and one daughter Marie Cloud both of McLaughlin, SD, one sister Corrine Cloud of Fort Yates, North Dakota, 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews on Standing Rock as well as the Spirit Lake Nation.

Edwina was preceded in death by her parents, sister Stephanie, brother Bernard, and many relatives; Elizabeth Morgan, Bucky Cloud, Bernard Huff, George Rattling Tail, Sam Cloud, Jesse Cloud, Nancy Black Cloud, Germaine and Eva Little Chief.