Joseph Shields III, 46, of Lake Andes

Joseph died Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Wake services are being held at the Ihanktonwan Oyate Community Center in Marty. Funeral services are 10 AM, Saturday at the center. Burial is in St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery, Marty.

Joe M. Shields III was born October 18, 1972 in Rosebud, SD, to Joe Shields Jr. and Sherry Hollow Horn Bear. At six months old, he was then raised by his grandmother Susan Lance-Shields in Old Ring Thunder, SD. He also stayed with his grandfather, Joe Shields Sr. on the Yankton Sioux reservation, traveling with him to NAC ceremonies in different reservations. They both taught him to understand the Lakota and Dakota languages.
Joe attended schools at Todd County and Marty Indian School. He obtained his GED and later attended Arizona Automotives for one year. In 1991, Joe became a father to Jennifer R. Shields. He later met Roberta Sands in 1992 and moved to Arizona to start a new beginning together. They were eventually married, and to this union they had three daughters: Shaylene, Olowan, and Tashina Shields.
Joe lived in Arizona for 15 years before moving back to the Wahancanka homestead in Marty, SD. Joe enjoyed hunting, riding horses, going on nature walks, and loved to sing. As a child, Joe learned how to make beadwork, quillwork, and other crafts from his grandmother, as she mostly had grandsons. Later on, he taught his family to make quillwork as well.
Joe helped his father and brother with ceremonies around the community and was always willing to lend a helping hand. He loved to travel, meet new people, and made friends wherever he went. Joe liked to tease and make people laugh, no matter how close they were to him.
Joe had a vast amount of knowledge of our traditional beliefs that he was taught by his grandparents and father. He was baptized in the Native American Church, attending ceremonies, and enjoyed going to church. He will be greatly missed.
Joe is survived by his children: Jennifer, Shaylene, Olowan, and Tashina Shields; grandchildren: Daniel Jr., Kiyanna, Louis, Shandiin, and one more on the way; siblings: Shane, Telly, and Marcus Shields; Michael and Kenneth Little Brave Jr., and Twila Little Brave.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Sherry Hollow Horn Bear and Joe Shields Jr.; siblings: Bernadine, Stephanie, and Melanie Shields; grandparents: Susan Lance-Shields, Joseph Shields, Sr. and Nell and Josephine Hollow Horn Bear.