Clifford Clown | January 11, 1966 - December 8, 2022
Obituaries-Pierre / Posted Dec 29, 2022 | 8:37 AM / 337 views
Clifford Clown, 56, of Eagle Butte, passed away Thursday, December 8, 2022, in Eagle Butte.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. MST, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery, Thunder Butte.
Clifford Joseph Clown was born January 11, 1966, in Eagle Butte, SD to Irvin Clown (aka, Quanah Walker) and Isabelle Bowker. He was the oldest of seven siblings. In his younger years, Clifford grew up mostly in Thunder Butte, SD with his grandmother, Emily Clown. He was a grandma’s boy and she loved to call him Kili. He attended school in Dupree and later St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain where he completed 8th grade. From there he went to Lower Brule where he played basketball. He loved sports, was a quiet guy, and had a great smile. He returned home to Cheyenne River and entered the Morman placement school in Rexburg, ID. While there, Clifford lived with his adopted family during the school year.
After his return to Cheyenne River, Clifford joined the BIA Fire Fighting crew. He worked day labor, making a lot of friends along the way. He was known for his beautiful dream catchers. He loved to sit and visit and watch his favorite movies, mostly Bruce Lee. He also liked to read and could quite often be found reading his bible. He had Jesus in his life and went to church. Clifford was always there to lend a helping hand where needed.
A couple years back, Clifford received wounds from a fire he was involved in. He was transferred to Rapid City before being flown to the burn center in Denver, CO. He would call home to his family saying he was lonesome, however, he always thanked them for their encouragement for him to stay strong and finish his stay. While in the hospital, Clifford made friends and had one favorite nurse. She asked him what his hobby was, so he shared his love of making dream catchers. That same nurse went and bought all the makings for dream catchers so he started making them. They saw how beautiful his creations were and before long all of the nurses wanted one. He was happy to make one for each of them to keep.
He will be greatly missed by everyone. However, he did not go alone, as part of our heart went with him. He will always be remembered.
Those left behind to cherish his life include his two daughters: Diedra and Kendall; sister, Alice Clown; brothers: Reginald and Orville Clown; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Irvin “Jay” Clown Jr.; sisters: Rita Jo Slides Off and Rae Jean Slides Off-Cota; paternal grandparents: Emily and Joseph Clown; maternal grandparents: Jonas and Alice Bowker; as well as many aunts and uncles.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Clifford’s arrangements.
