Clyde “Butch” Walking Elk, 84, of Kenel passed away Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Mobridge Regional Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Mass of Christian Burial for Clyde “Butch” Walking Elk, 84, of Kenel will be at 10 AM, Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the Kenel Catholic Church. Burial will at the church cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Butch passed away Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Clyde Verl (Butch) Walking Elk was born on April 19, 1940, at Mad Bear Camp in South Dakota to Mark and Margaret (Martin) Walking Elk. Clyde grew up in “Old Kenel” and was known to everyone as “Butch.”

He attended grade school at old Kenel school and High School in Fort Yates, ND.

He met the love of his life Shirley Ann Left Hand-Poitra and they married on September 4, 1965. To this union eight children were born: Todd, Brenda, Dennis, Claudette, Sandy, Claudia, Chip, and Craig.

In 1965, Butch and Shirley moved to Los Angeles, California where he attended auto mechanics school. Butch worked at the BIA Roads garage, Indian Action Program and the Standing Rock Housing Authority. Butch was a rancher his whole life, he enjoyed ranching and the cowboy way. Throughout his life, Butch made many friends and developed many lifelong friendships. Of these friendships there were rancher friends who became family always offering support and a helping hand to each other. Butch was one of the best hands and was always called upon and would travel any distance to help at various brandings.

Butch enjoyed sports but his favorite sport was softball, he played with various teams including playing alongside his brothers Cliff, Gil, and Eugene Walking Elk.  His mother Margaret followed her sons and loved watching them play softball together. Butch remained active even into his later years and continued to help where he could and was always just a phone call away. He was the go-to for so many and always stepped up when called upon without hesitation. Butch never backed down from a challenge. He made this world a better place for many. This includes his 13 furry friends, the dogs in the Kenel community, who he faithfully fed everyday! Butch had a heart the size of Texas, he would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it. He loved to laugh, and visit, and tell stories of his many experiences and adventures.  Butch will be deeply missed.

Butch’s grandchildren were the light of his life and he was so proud of each and everyone of them. Blessed to call him Grandpa/Papa are Christina Walking Elk, Philip Bird Horse Jr., Rob, Danielle and Gabrielle Bird Horse, David Molash, Jordan Lawrence, Justin Walking Elk, Tia, Logan and Neil Luger, Pamela Marshall, Patrick Hettich, Duffy Dupris, Dennis Walking Elk, Brendan Walking Elk, Elias Eagle, Sandee Steele, Craig, Taos, Shayne & Parker Walking Elk, Noah White Bull and great grand-children.

Butch is survived by his children; Todd (Irma) Walking Elk, Kenel, SD, Brenda Molash, Rapid City, SD, Claudette (Ridge) Walking Elk, Claudia (Paul) Walking Elk, and Craig Walking Elk all of Kenel, SD, and sons, Philip (Tami) Bird Horse, Wakpala, SD and Joe (Stacy) Fischer, Sydney, MT.

Butch is also survived by hunka children, Dale “Dozer” Demery, Dawnette Azure, Jo Baker, Kerby St. John Sr, Joe Good Elk, Anthony Stricker, Myrtis Baker, Terry Grey Hawk, Matt Harrison, and Jim Gayton. Butch made a pact with his Uncle Hank Martin that whoever of the two went first the other would take of the other’s children. Butch held true to his promise and claimed his Uncle Hank’s children and helped raise Laurel Vermillion, Scott Martin, Judy Yellow Fat, and Paula Gayton as his own. Butch is also survived by his brothers Cliff (Zozette) Walking Elk, Gil Walking Elk, and his partner Dana Lafromboise.

Butch is preceeded in death by his sons; Dennis Walking Elk, Claude (Sandy) Walking Elk, Clyde (Chip) Walking Elk Jr; parents Mark and Margaret Walking Elk, maternal grandparents Frant and Mary Martin, brothers Larry, Robert, Nathan and Eugene, and sisters Bernadine, Susan, Kathleen, and Linda.

1. Add to favourites
2. Report abuse