Mary Ann Godfrey was born on April 24, 1953 to Carol Godfrey in Wagner, SD. She began her spirit journey on March 14, 2021 at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, UT.

Mary spent most of her younger years in the Milk’s Camp Community of the Rosebud Reservation. She and her mom lived with her grandfather Edward Godfrey Sr. and grandmother Carrie Godfrey, her aunt Doreen McBride, sister Cheryl McBride, and Rita Brokenleg. Her other siblings include: Carrie Louise Butler, Dennis Irvin, Dena Irvin-Young, Doreen Irvin, Dusty Irvin, and Darlene Irvin-Stordahl

She received her elementary education at the school that was once in St. Charles, SD. In high school, she received a scholarship to attend Kemper Hall in Kenosha, WI, a private Episcopal girl’s school, where she excelled in languages, theater, and basketball. There she received an excellent education and made several lifelong friends. Mary graduated from Kemper Hall in 1971 then spent a fourteen-month term abroad in Germany while pursuing collegiate studies.

Upon her return from Germany, Mary attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion where she met and later married Patrick Spears, with whom she had nine beautiful children.

Mary was a full-blooded Sincangu Lakota, enrolled in the Heyata Wicasa, the Milk’s Camp band of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. Her Lakota name was Awé ki Najin Winyan, Standing Spring Woman. Mary was one of many Native youth of her generation in the 1970’s who made efforts to reconnect with their traditional ways. Over the years, she took part in many sweat ceremonies and prayed with her sons and friends at the wiwanyang wachipi, the sundance. She also loved powwow and danced as a Northern women’s traditional dancer for many years.

She had a horse named Lucky Boy for several years, who she loved. She loved cooking for family, watching cooking shows, going out dancing, taking care of grandbabies, and late-night snacking. The Judds were her favorite music artists. She was a natural caretaker and giver, and always made sure her family, friends, and company were well fed and warm.

Mary worked the Indian Health Service Clinic in Lower Brule then began her career in the finance department of the IHS clinic in Ft. Thompson, SD. From Fort Thompson Mary transferred to the IHS Great Plains Area Office in Aberdeen, SD. She was working at the Billings IHS Area Office in Montana at the time of her passing. Her career spanned over thirty-three years, during which time she helped people of all tribes in the Midwest to advance their healthcare programs through hospital-openings, financial assistance, and building medical infrastructure.

Mary is survived by sisters Rita Brokenleg, Cheri McBride, Carrie Louise Butler, Dena Irvin-Young, Doreen Irvin, Darlene Irvin-Stordahl, brothers Dennis Irvin and Dusty Irvin, her children Lesley Spears, Michael Spears, Ryan Spears, Matthew Spears, Clay Spears, Edward Spears, and Patrick Spears, all her grandchildren, and many other family, friends, and colleagues who love her dearly.

Welcoming Mary to the other side are her mother Carol Godfrey, her boys Shawn and Patrick, the “love of her life” Patrick Spears and mother-in-law Esther Spears, her Auntie Doreen, her grandparents Ed and Carrie Godfrey, her brother Donald Irvin Jr.

Pallbearers: Michael Spears, Ryan Spears, Matthew Spears, Clay Spears, Edward Spears, and Patrick Spears

There will be a visitation from 1:00pm until 3:00pm on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre, SD. Burial will follow at 4:00pm at Holy Name Episcopal Cemetery at Fort George. For those unable to attend the services, they can be viewed at the top of this page.

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