Russell Redlightning, 56 of Marty
Funeral services will be 10:00 am Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at the Community Center in Marty, with burial in the Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Greenwood. Wake services will be held at the Center. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner is handling the arrangements.

Russell Homer Redlightning,56, of Marty, SD, was born October 19, 1953 and passed away on Friday, February 26, 2010 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Fall. Russell was on dialysis for 12 years. He was put on dialysis in 1997 and remained on it until the time of his death.

Russell was brought into this world by the Estelle (Kezena) and the late Orville Redlightning, Sr. He was the oldest of nine children. Russell attended Central Grade School in Waukegan, IL up to the eighth grade. His parents moved back to South Dakota in 1966 and Russell attended Ravinia High School during his freshman year and then he went to boarding school and attended Todd County High School in Mission his sophomore year. Russell came back home to finish his two remaining years of high school at St. Paul's Indian Mission (now Marty Indian School) and graduated with the class of 1972. Russell attended higher education at Haskell Indian Junior College in Lawrence, KS, where he graduated with an Associates Arts Degree in Liberal Arts.

After graduating, Russell moved back to Marty where he worked for the Yankton Sioux Tribe in various positions. He was a police dispatcher before becoming a Tribal police officer and then a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer. Russell had the opportunity to serve on the Tribal Council for two terms (1981-1983) and (1991-1993) and was one of the longest serving board members for Marty Indian School Board (1983-1991) and (1993-2003). His favorite places to work were the Wagner Food Center, being a Dialysis Patient Driver for the State of South Dakota and being a security guard at the Fort Randall Casino, which allowed him to work and visit people from all walks of life.

Russell always had a joke and a smile on his face, even when he wasn't feeling very well. Russell never complained about anything; he enjoyed life. His greatest accomplishment was when he was able to Sundance this past summer. His family was always proud of him and know that he lived a wonderful and fulfilling life.

Russell met Pam Dirksen in June of 1979 and they were married for 26 years. To this union four children were born. Thankful for having shared his life are his children: Christopher and wife Rachel Redlightning, Sr. 30 of Grand Island, NE; Charisse Redlightning, 28 of Yankton; Bethann Standing Cloud and husband Todd, 23 of Marty; and Becca Redlightning, 13 of Yankton; eight grandchildren; his mother Estelle Redlightning of Marty; three brothers: Michael and wife Marilyn of Wagner; Gerald and wife Rolene of Lake Andes; and Edward of Marty; one sister Tracey Redlightning of Marty; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunties, uncles, grandmas and grandpas.

Russell was preceded in death by his father; three brothers: Orville (Fud), Jr., Sherman Keith and Jeffery Adam; one sister Terri Jo; paternal grandparents: Winnie (Hare) and Martin Redlightning; and maternal grandparents: Alice (Gullickson) and Fred Kezena, Sr.