Obituary for Marcella Evelyn Prue (Swalley)
Marcella was born on March 16, 1926 in Rosebud, SD to Ellis Swalley and Millie Menard. She died on May 27, 2020 in Vermillion. She lived a remarkable life of over 94 years. In her earlier years, Marcella was an elevator attendant at Howard Johnson in Rapid. While raising children, she and Joe were very active with the bowling league where she qualified for the national tournament in Las Vegas. She also worked alongside Russell Means in the CAP program and served as a teacher’s aide in Okreek. After the death of Joe, she moved to Huron and became both a full-time student and college counselor. She graduated from Huron College with a dual degree in criminal justice and sociology.
Marcella always had a special place in her heart for St. Francis Mission, her experience there gave her a solid foundation of prayer and devotion that helped her throughout her life. Marcella enjoyed a full life including serving as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for Governor Bill Janklow and as an assistant to the warden at the SD Penitentiary. When she retired, she moved back to Antelope Community where she continued to lead an active political and social life. She served on the Rosebud casino gaming commission and the board of the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society. Marcella enjoyed travelling and especially liked to visit her daughter Kathy at her various military posts, including Hawaii and Germany, where she was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the Pope. She also enjoyed sports, attending basketball games and tournaments following the careers of her son, Red, and her grandson, Eldon Marshall. She truly loved to play poker. You could always count on Marcella to pray for you; most Sundays she waited patiently to receive communion from her nephew Opie.
Marcella is survived by her children: Leonard “Sarge” Red Hair, Joseph Cephus Prue, Jr., Alex “Red” Prue, Sr., and his wife, Cheryl Crazy Bull, Daniel Prue, Sr., Samuel Prue, Kathy and her husband, Doug Owens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Prue, Sr.; mother, Millie Menard Schweigman; children, Faye, Freddie, Mike, Kenny, Mona Lisa; and siblings, Armene, Pearl, Julian, Gene, Zondo, and Leroy Swalley. She leaves behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchild, nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends who will miss the joy in her face when she saw them. There is no doubt her family was her joy and love. She always reminded them to “love each other.”
Marcella always had a special place in her heart for St. Francis Mission, her experience there gave her a solid foundation of prayer and devotion that helped her throughout her life. Marcella enjoyed a full life including serving as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for Governor Bill Janklow and as an assistant to the warden at the SD Penitentiary. When she retired, she moved back to Antelope Community where she continued to lead an active political and social life. She served on the Rosebud casino gaming commission and the board of the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society. Marcella enjoyed travelling and especially liked to visit her daughter Kathy at her various military posts, including Hawaii and Germany, where she was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the Pope. She also enjoyed sports, attending basketball games and tournaments following the careers of her son, Red, and her grandson, Eldon Marshall. She truly loved to play poker. You could always count on Marcella to pray for you; most Sundays she waited patiently to receive communion from her nephew Opie.
Marcella is survived by her children: Leonard “Sarge” Red Hair, Joseph Cephus Prue, Jr., Alex “Red” Prue, Sr., and his wife, Cheryl Crazy Bull, Daniel Prue, Sr., Samuel Prue, Kathy and her husband, Doug Owens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Prue, Sr.; mother, Millie Menard Schweigman; children, Faye, Freddie, Mike, Kenny, Mona Lisa; and siblings, Armene, Pearl, Julian, Gene, Zondo, and Leroy Swalley. She leaves behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchild, nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends who will miss the joy in her face when she saw them. There is no doubt her family was her joy and love. She always reminded them to “love each other.”