Sylvia Blue Arm | 1935 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jan 4, 2024 | 9:43 AM / 102 views
Sylvia Blue Arm, 88, of Eagle Butte, passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Medicine Wheel Village, Eagle Butte, SD.
Due to the weather, funeral services have been postponed to 10:00 a.m., MST, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in Frazier Memorial Cemetery, Red Scaffold.
In October 1932, 3 days after Sylvia was born, a world event took place where Nazi Germany and Italy signed a treaty of cooperation beginning WWII.
Her father, Frank Iron Hawk, named her Zuya Tokahe Win to honor her older brothers, Wilson and Claude who went away to war. It was reported that Frank Iron Hawk stood on a butte for 4 days and 4 nights fasting and praying for the safe return of his sons. Frank Iron Hawk was recorded to list his family as follows: “My wife Ester Mandan was 20 years old. We have four boys and one girl. The oldest was born April 13, 1916. At 16 years old he went to Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kansas, and stayed for four years. His name is Wilson Iron Hawk. (Because of my lack of education) I encouraged his schooling. Our second oldest boy is going to school in Cheyenne Agency Boarding School. He is 17 years old. Claude Iron Hawk is his name. The third, Carl Iron Hawk, was in school, but he got sick, so I brought him home. Sydney is 7 years old and not in school, and on October 22, 1935, Sylvia was born. Not yet baptized.”
“My Kola, John Iron Hawk was active in this church organization until he died on May 27, 1935. John was born in October 1894. His son, Levi Iron Hawk, pitiful, I took him in.”
“Now my father Cetanmaza and his brother Little Bird, ZintKala Cikala, are warriors from the Wajaja band under Red Cloud, Mahpiya Luta. They are noted for their bravery, their ability to kill and steal horses.”
“The year 1889 my father chose a piece of land and built a house on it. This is where I grew up and called it my home until now, 1936.”
Because I grew up in hardship, I thank the Great Spirit for giving me many years of good health, good thoughts, and guidance in this life he has given me.” (Reprinted from “IO” 1936).
Postscript: Her Different Horse (1876-1880), John Iron Hawk (1893-) and author, Frank Iron Hawk (1889-1957) were the children of Cetanmaza and Lone Woman (1862-1932), Cetanmaza was the son of Eating Beef and Moving Iron of Pine Ridge, SD, Lone Woman was the daughter of Jumps Over Bull Horse/Running Buffalo/ Running Bull (1835-1923) and Her Brown Cane (d. 1899, see Builds Fire).
When John Iron Hawk died his brother Frank adopted his son Levi Iron Hawk. Levi Iron Hawk died in Oregon in 1978.
In 1915, Frank Iron Hawk married Ester Mandan (1896-1963) the daughter of Watana/Amos Long Mandan (1857-1925) and Moves the Water (1861-1911) Ester’s brother was Patrick Eugene Long Mandan (1894).
Frank and Ester’s children are as follows: Wilson Iron hawk (1916-1979) Claude Iron Hawk born in 1919, Served in Germany in WWII, he married Goldie Warbonnet. Carl Iron Hawk lived from 1924-1932 and Sydney Iron Hawk lived from 1929 until 1938. Sylvia was born in 1935, and married Gary Blue Arm. Mathew Iron Hawk b. 1943 married Prairie Rose Charging Cloud. Because Sylvia had no children of her own, she was the wonderful patient aunt, the Lakota term as a second mother. She doted on Margo Rose as she was petite like her Aunt Sylvia.
She was devoted to her art of sewing, as Lakota Winyan, she cared for her family and made beautiful star quilts and pillowcases to match. She doted on her brother Mat whom she had an obligation to create fine apparel for, which was an affectionate sign of love and dedication.
During Sylvia’s life living in Cherry Creek, SD she developed life-long friendships with Marlene Runs After and Arlene Demery. They enjoyed themselves traveling together to community gatherings. Marlene and Arlene helped take care of Sylvia until they had to attend to their own health. Sylvia was placed at the Medicine Wheel Village, then sent to west Regional in Rapid City. After Rapid City, she was sent to Human Services Center in Yankton S. D. and was finally brought back to the Medicine Wheel Village in November 2023.
Sylvia was a treasured gift to Cetanmaza tiospaye with her gentle personality and kind smile. She always wore a scarf, bobby pins, jewelry, and was a graceful Lakota Winyan. Her only spoken language was Lakota. She endured many battles in her effort to maintain a foothold in a society entrenched in speaking English. Although she was being understood, she quietly battled on. She left for the Spirit World still speaking Lakota, in essence, she won her battle.
To carry on her legacy and mourn a beautiful loss are her brothers’ children, Wilson’s family: Launa, Jody, Dody, Erica, Nicole, and Destry; Claude’s family: Inez and Manny; Mat’s family: Barbara, Warren, Micki, Margo, and Frank; 56 grandchildren; and 98 great grandchildren.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Sylvia’s arrangements.