Obituary of Alvin Twiss

Alvin "Bud" Twiss , age 80 of Santee, NE made his journey home to be with the Lord and join his wife, Betty of 56 years, on the morning of January 7, 2016. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Monday, January 11, 2016 at the Oyate Oyanke Community Center, Santee, NE with Rev. Patricia White Horse-Carda and Father David Hussey. Burial will be in the Episcopal Cemetery. Visitations will begin on Friday, January 8, 2016 at the Oyate Oyanke Community Center, Santee, NE and continue until service time on Monday. A wake service will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening at 7 PM at the Oyate Oyanke Community Center. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton is assisting with the arrangements. Pallbearers will be Bill Yunker, Owen Ferguson, Corbin Twiss, Gary Ferguson, Jr., Nicholas White and Tate Ferguson. Honorary pallbearers will be: Ronnie Kocer, Louis Twiss, Jr., Maurice Twiss, Lloyd Twiss, Ray Big Crow, Gilbert Mesteth, Ken James, Don Twiss, James Twiss, George Twiss, Jr., Mike Twiss, Sr., Melvin Twiss, Ronnie Twiss, and family and relatives. Alvin "Bud" Twiss was born on June 19, 1935 to Wallace and Hattie (Clifford) Twiss in Rockyford, SD. Bud graduated from Oglala Community High School in Pine Ridge, SD. He then went to college at Haskell College in Lawrence, KS. After a whirlwind romance, Bud married Betty James at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Pine Ridge, SD on April 25, 1956 and moved to Deadwood, SD. He loved to Rodeo participating in calf roping and steer wrestling. He grew up on a ranch, his first horse he bought cost him $3.00 therefore he named him "Dollar". They moved several times over the years, living in South Dakota and Nebraska. He taught auto mechanics and industrial arts at Oglala Community High School in Pine Ridge, SD and at Little Wound High School, Kyle, SD. In 1989, they moved to Santee, NE where he worked as the Land Manager for the Santee Sioux Nation Land Management for 24 years. He is survived by daughters, Debra Twiss and Cheryl (Sam) Kitto, both of Santee, NE; 7 grandchildren: Jody (Lance) Ferguson, Owen (Shayna) Ferguson, Dana (Bill) Yunker, Corbin (Krystal) Twiss, KayCee Ferguson, Gary (LaVanna) Ferguson, Jr. and Ashley (DJ) Ferguson; 32 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Gayla Twiss of Pine Ridge, SD, and a special cousin, LaVonn Kocer of Rapid City, SD and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, his parents, Wallace and Hattie, brothers: George, Melvin (his twin brother) and Clifford Twiss.