Betty Jean O'Rourke

Betty Jean O’Rourke was born on April 4, 1949 at the Old I.H.S. Hospital in Pine Ridge, SD to Emmett Janis and Delores Grace Black Elk. Betty made her journey to the Spirit World on March 12, 2024 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.

Betty’s father, Emmett Janis passed away when she was 2 years old and was raised by her maternal grandparents, Ben and Ellen Black Elk on their land on Wounded Knee Creek near Manderson, SD. Betty spent her early summers in old Keystone, SD near Mount Rushmore National Park where her grandpa Ben Black Elk greeted tourists, gave lectures on Lakota Culture, and posed for pictures. When Betty was old enough, she performed native dances with her family members for the visitors. The Black Elk family rented a small cabin in Keystone, SD where they stayed for the summer. In the winter, they returned to their home on Wounded Knee Creek.

Betty’s grandfather Ben Black Elk was known locally and nationally as the fifth face of Mount Rushmore. Betty’s great grandfather was Nickolas Black Elk, Lakota Holy Man. The former Harney Peak in the Black Hills was renamed Black Elk Peak in his honor.

Betty attended school grades 1 thru 12 at the Holy Rosary Mission Catholic School as a boarding school student. After graduating from High School, Betty was united in marriage to Anthony Kelly, together they had three children-Emmett Kelly, Sr., Mason James Kelly, and Heather Ellen Kelly. After her marriage, Betty and her husband and growing family entered the BIA relocation program and relocated to San Diego, CA for a couple of years and then to Yuma, AZ. Betty studied nursing and obtained her LPN Degree and worked at the Ft. Yuma Indian Hospital.

Betty returned home with her children in 1970 and found employment with the Sioux Indian Museum in Rapid City on Halley Park. She rented a home on Creek Drive on Rapid Creek. Betty was a Rapid City 1973 Flood survivor. She lost all of her possessions but she and her children were rescued the following day by Rapid City Rescue Teams.

Betty returned to Pine Ridge and worked for the Head Start Program as a nutritionist. Betty remarried in 1990 to Chuck O’Rourke. Chuck and Betty both retired in 1999 and moved to their new home south of Manderson where Betty operated Betty’s Kitchen for 25 years until shortly before she passed away from cancer related issues.

Betty is survived by her spouse, Charles “Chuck” O’Rourke; nieces, Lisa (Donovan) Steele and Lora Catches; nephews, Jefrey Catches and Myron Pourier; grandchildren, Austin Kelly, Sr., Austin Kelly, Jr. (Tashaun & Nyna), JaShon Kelly, Maisena Kelly, Katie Kelly, Minnie Kelly, Emmett Kelly, Jr., Alaric Kelly, Amara Steele, Aliah Steele, Franklin Steele, Aden Catches, Vilique Fallis, Jozaya Tilson, Danielle (Ty Apple) Whirlwind Horse, and Aubrey Apple; sisters, Penny (Clifford) Wolters & Boys, Angie (Percy) Clifford, and Oliva DeSersa; and many loved grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and first cousins.

Betty was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ben and Ellen (Bissonette) Black Elk; mother, Delores Grace Black Elk; father Emmett Janis; sisters, Debi Ann Hall; hunka sister, Ginny (Keith) Titus; brother, Baby Boy Janis; and children, Emmett Kelly, Sr., Mason James Kelly, and Heather Ellen Kelly.

Pallbearers will be Austin Kelly, Sr., Emmett Kelly, Jr., Alaric Kelly, Matt Shoulders, Chance Clifford, Blair Wolters, Franklin Steele, and Jefrey Catches.

Honorary pallbearers will be Donovan Steele, Garfield Steele, Ted Skantze, Cory True, John & Monica Whirlwind Horse, and All Friends & Relatives.

Wake Services: One night wake service starting at 2:30 PM, Friday, March 22, 2024 at the Wounded Knee District School in Manderson, SD

Funeral Services: 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Wounded Knee District School in Manderson, SD

Traditional Lakota Services: Mr. Jerome LeBeaux

Burial Services: St. Agnes’s Catholic Cemetery, Manderson, South Dakota

Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD.