Michelle Emma was the youngest of Gerald and Arlene Black Bear’s children. She was born in Rosebud South Dakota on a beautiful Monday morning on May 28, 1979 at 6:47am. At the time the family lived in Ideal, South Dakota.

From 1980 -2015 Michelle lived in the community of Corn Creek. She attended the RST Head Start in Black Pipe when she was four years old. She went on to the “Big School” when she entered kindergarten. Michelle enjoyed her school days in Norris, some of her favorite teachers were Mrs Rainey, Miss Meyers, and Mrs Bligh. Michelle was a faithful Norris Eagle fan until her transition to the Middle School. In Middle School, she had many accomplishments, including being inducted into the National Honor Society and making Middle School Student of the week. Etc. At her young age, she was very faithful to the Lord. In the Mellette County News Paper interview she stated one of her favorite pastime was “listening to gospel singer Franklin Jefferson and her Uncles” and “that the most important thing in life is the Lord Jesus.” —Read clip

Michelle graduated high school from WR in May of 1997. She then pursued a college education at the Sinte Gleska University. As a student there, Michelle took advantage of the education and loved going to school, she was so excited and filled with humility when she made the Dean’s List.

During her college years, Michelle met Thomas Erickson, they were good friends and became very close. They conceived three beautiful children, Tionne, Thomas and Kailee Erickson. (deceased). After losing her youngest child, Michelle’s life changed. She was very devastated by her loss.

Michelle was one who always served others, and was always willing to step up and do things, not only for her family, her friends and also for her faith and community. In her youth, she always helped in the church, participated in activities, cooked, and cleaned. She helped build the Igluwita Oti (The Gathering Place) and was very much a part of it.

Michelle worked numerous jobs and in different capacities, the job she loved most was to be along side of her children, her parents, best brother Sonny, favorite sister, Jeri and favorite brother-in-law, Jason. She was full of compassion when it came to her family. She had such a loyalty and a love for them that she always put them before herself.

Michelle had many friends. Her presence and smile, including her “As if” reply will be greatly missed.
The good Lord came after our Michelle so unexpectedly and so sudden. We know she’s with the Lord and all our family in heaven.

Michelle left to be with the Lord on August 3, 2015. Those blessed and thankful for sharing her life are her parents, Gerald and Arlene Black Bear Jr., children Tionne and Thomas Erickson, her brother Gregg (Sonny) Black Bear, sister Jerilyn Dubray, and brother-in-law, Jason Dubray. Her numerous cousins, aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandparents Gerald and Evangeline Black Bear.

“Our Indian Princess Michelle, you will be greatly missed”

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