I didn't post this obit because I wasn't sure if very many people were going to know who he was.

This is a description of his memorial service that was posted in the ASAIL online newsletter (Association for the Study of American Indian Literature). --SRS

Hello All - Vine's Celebration of Life was a wonderful experience for everyone there. Through most of the evening there were pictures of Vine, family and friends projected onto the huge, tall back wall of the Mount Vernon Event Center so that everyone there could see the images as they constantly changed. It was the perfect punctuation for the personal recollections of speakers starting with Norbert Hill, and Suzan Harjo, Ray DeMallie, Rick Williams, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Jennifer Easton, Sam Scinta, Tom McCoy, David Wilkins and Bobby Bridger. All of these were memories of things that Vine had done with, and sometimes for, each of the speakers that reflected Vine's humor, superb intellect and commitment to the people.

Vine's son, Phil, gave us a fascinating glimpse into what it was like growing up as Vine Deloria's son and for the family to share Vine with first hundreds, then thousands, and finally millions of people. And, for them, the most important people in Vine's life, to know how much he loved them.

After everyone shared a meal together, the representative from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe read the proclamation from the Tribal Council ordering all flags to be at half mast in honor their favorite son who always responded to any request Vine's Tribe asked of him.

There were many other people who asked to offer their "Vine reminisce," so many that there wasn't enough time. We all left that gathering with a true sense that we had just celebrated with Vine and that we could wish him Happy Trails with a smile on our face.

Joyzelle Godfrey