Burton In The Woods Sr., 71, of Dupree, entered the spirit world, Friday, July 30, 2021 at Monument Health, Rapid City.

In compliance with the CRST Tribal Directives, funeral services will be 10:00 am MDT, Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Pioneer Hall, Dupree. Burial will follow at the Dupree City Cemetery, Dupree.

Burton Alan In The Woods was born on August 21, 1949 to Jobe In The Woods and Ellen (Condon) In The Woods at Old Cheyenne Agency. He spent his childhood in Cherry Creek, SD and later moved to Dupree, SD where he attended school and graduated from C-EB in 1969 at Eagle Butte.

He moved to Oakland, California in the late 1960’s with his older brother, Bernard In The Woods. This is where he met Kay Decorah and had his first child, daughter Rochelle L. Snow. He worked several different jobs while living there, including at a print shop and Intertribal Friendship House helping people with job placement in Oakland, California. While living in California, Burton enjoyed playing basketball on a local team – even winning “all-star” at a tournament, singing, playing the drums, and going to powwows.

In 1978, he met and married Patricia Riley, and from this union his first-born son, John Thomas In The Woods, was born in 1980. Burton returned home to the reservation and began to work as a community health representative and for the Teton Ambulance Service as an EMT. In 1981, Burton met Inez Iron Bird and to this union a son, Bernard Alan In The Woods aka “B” or “Little Bernie”, was born on August 24, 1982. In 1983, he met and married Stacie Lee, and together they had five children: Chante Lee, Barbara In The Woods, Burton In The Woods Jr., Brittney In The Woods, and Brockton In The Woods Sr.

He also raised two granddaughters, Drey’Anne Lee and Devony Lee, and one grandson, Misun In The Woods as his own. He would call Misun his right-hand man. Burton loved all his children and all his grandbabies dearly. You could call him the rock of the family.

In 1986 his Law Enforcement career began. He worked as a police officer, and then moved his way up to sergeant, lieutenant, and then served as chief of police until 2013. In 2014 he began working as the SORNA Officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe until his passing.

Burton was a traditional man and a sundancer, which began in 1987. He enjoyed spending time with his family and taking care of his grandkids. He loved playing and going to basketball games, and powwows. He organized the Dupree Lakota Youth Powwow and a traveling fast pitch baseball team.

Burton is survived by his children: Shelly Snow, CA, John T. In The Woods, VA, Bernard A. In The Woods, SD, Chante M. Lee, NM, Barbara E. In The Woods, SD, Burton A. In The Woods Jr., SD, Brittney L. In The Woods, SD, and Brockton G. In The Woods, SD; numerous grandchildren; siblings: Bernard (Bernice) Woods, SD, Bessie (Clifford) Moudy, SD, Bentley In The Woods, SD, Barney (Nancy) In The Woods, CA, Charlene Red Thunder, SD, Bryce (Candace) In The Woods, SD, Bernita In The Woods, SD, and Belinda In The Woods, SD.

Those awaiting him in heaven are his mother, Ellen Mae Condon In The Woods, father, Jobe In The Woods; brothers: Blaine In The Woods, Robert “Bobby” In The Woods and Byron In The Woods; sisters, Beverly M. Clown and Barbara In The Woods; and niece, Eleta In The Woods.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Burton’s arrangements.

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