Marilyn Kay Martin

Marilyn Kay Martin was born on January 7, 1958 in Pine Ridge, SD to Smauel Martin and Madeline Living Outside. Marilyn made her journey to the Spirit World on November 13, 2025 at the Mountain View Avantara Nursing Home in Rapid City, SD.
Marilyn grew up in Red Shirt Table and attended school at Oglala Community School in Pine Ridge. She got her GED from Oglala Lakota College. She worked as a sweeper for the bombing range crew. After a year or two of working as a sweeper, she liked the job so well that she went to the UXO at Texas A&M, where she earned her Unexploded Ordnance Technician certificate, becoming a Tech-1.
Marilyn met Lonnie Swallow at the Hermosa rodeo. In 1980, they were married. To their union, they had six children: Kelley Sioux, Baby Boy Swallow, Lu Ann, Bud Daniel, Katie Marie, and Shayne Adam Swallow.
Marilyn and Lonnie raised their children and ranched in Red Shirt Table.
Marilyn really loved the outdoors. She loved riding horseback with her nephew Jerry Dean and helping her Uncle Bud (Kills A Hundred) Sherman in ranch work, where she learned and loved the Cowboy way of life! He also gave her cattle as a wedding present.
Marilyn was also an avid sports fan. She loved her team, the Denver Broncos! She also loved the Colorado Rockies.
Marilyn was also very outgoing, and she even once participated in "Mexican" poker at the Oelrichs rodeo. She was the only woman playing, stone-cold sober. She was a fearless woman, but also a faithful believer in her Lakota way of life and the Catholic church.
Marilyn was fluent in Lakota and very proud of her culture. She also has Mexican lineage that connects her family to "Poncho Villa," as her grandfather rode with him.
Marilyn was the kindest and most caring woman you have ever met. All who knew her knew she had the loving heart and a was very beautiful soul. And Marlyn loved her children, her family, and her friends, endlessly.
Marilyn is survived by her children, Kelley (Paul Nava) Swallow, LuAnn (Richard Bettlyoun) Swallow, Katie (Jae Smith) Swallow, and Chayne (Brandi) Swallow; her siblings, Manual Martin, Carmel Vegas, Buelah & Arlette Weasel Bear; sister-in-law, Sharon Cuny-Martin; her grandchildren, Tyrell "TJ", Triston, Andrew Swallow, Ariana and Annalise Nava, Reigns, Angelica, Serenity Provost, Chazz Dodd, Khaleesise Bettlyoun, Ruby Rose and Laddie Clifford, Bud Jr., Rendon, Mercedes Swallow, Bailey Ray Janis, Ryler Wyld Smith, Jae William Smith, Broly and Oakley Swallow; and great grandchildren: Lucano Swallow, Hazel Fresquez, Carlo Jude Lawerence Swallow.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Martin, Sr. & Madeline Living Outside; maternal grandparents, Nate Living Outside & Sally Arrow Wound; paternal grandparents, Barry Martin & Bessie Weasel Bear; sons, Baby Boy Swallow & Bud Daniel Swallow, Sr.; siblings, Fred Martin, Sr., Sam Martin, Jr., Francis (Poncho) Martin, Sr., Vincent (Virgil) Martin, Kenneth Return From Scout, Antoine "Tony" Martin, Darrell Martin, Sr., Chris Martin, David Martin, Jerilyn Martin, Marlon Ten Fingers, and Carol Jean Ten Fingers; niece, Susie Martin; & nephews, Samuel Martin III, Ronald Martin, David Martin, Larry Martin, and Fred Martin Jr.
Pallbearers will be Dale Martin, Robert "Chop" Martin, Tyrell Swallow, Triston Swallow, Andrew Swallow, Reigns Provost, Laddie Clifford, Ryler Smith, Bailey Janis, Rendon Swallow, Bud Swallow, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers: Nieces & nephews; Judy, Robert "Chop", Jolene, Nathan "Barry", Jennifer, Sheryl, Gloria, Kim, Francis Jr, Bobby, Duane, Louis, Lisa, Julia, Amber, Chris W., Georgiana, Sharron, Raymond, Chris Jr., Bernard, Patty Jo, Sonny, Dena, Darrell Jr., Elizabeth, Red Fawn, Loma, Kit, Anita, Brittney, Sequoia, Jesse, Jerry, Stacy, Jeff, Micah, Shay, Crystal, Kyle, Nicholas, Nicole, Sharon, Andrea, Carmen, Denise, Poncho, Darrell, Dale, Lillie Janis-Mitchell, Jerry Dean & Jae White, Red Shirt Family, Jerry, Shavonn, & Tyler White, Moran Family, Tyon Family, Matthews Family, Andrea Two Bulls, Toni Colhoff, Kin Provost, Chuck Dodd, Melvin & Tudy Swallow and Family, Deb Swallow & Family, Carl Swallow & Family, Jesse Alcanter-Swallow & Family, Marcus Swallow & Family, Hernandez Family, Faye Charging Thunder, Jake Yellow Horse, Ron Cross Dog, Scott Cuny, Joe Khul, Ken & Monica Knuppe, Whisper Red Feather, Corey Stover, Belva Clifford, Frog Family, Theresa, Phil, Len, Bo Davis, Walks Outs Family, Theresa Merdanian & Family, Kimberly & Shane Clifford, Matt Watkins, Alicia Provost, Abe Romero, Jr., Franklin Ferguson, Gary Ferguson, Lacey Watkins, Maurice Vocu, Caroline Two Bulls, Andrea Two Bulls, Kathy Red-Dod, Sylvia Picotte, Skuya Luta, Nancy Kay, Aldina Moran, Mary Frances Red Dog, Jess E. Red Dog, Kelly Jai, Kaylen James, Kendra James-Burshiem, Tami Williams, Dawn Marie LaPlante, Jessy LeBeau, Sydnee Red Dog, Dione SunRhodes, TJ Cloud Eagle-Moran, Mozella Albert, Sandra James, Dorraine LaPlante, Curtis Temple, Good Soldier family, Hunts Enemy Family, Crow Family, Fills the Pipe Family, Red Shirts, Helper Family, Kills Hundred, Brown Family, Mesteth Family, Poor Thunder Family, Red Dog Family from Cheyenne River, Bombing Range Tech-1 team, the Mountain View - Avantara Nursing Home residents and staff, all friends and relatives.
Marlyn has a very big family and if we missed you we aplogize.
Wake Services: Two night wake service with the first night starting at 4:00 PM, Thursday, November 20, 2025 at the Makasan Presbyterian Church Hall near Oglala, SD with the second night starting at 4:00 PM, Friday, November 21, 2025 at the Red Shirt School Gymnasium in Red Shirt Table, SD with evening services starting each night at 7:00 PM.
Funeral Services: 10:00 AM, Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Red Shirt Table School Gymnasium in Red Shirt Table, SD
Officiating: Ms. Joyce Tibbitts
Burial Services: St. Bernards Catholic Cemetery, Red Shirt Table, SD
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD