Essie Marie (Jackson) Kirk-White Face, of Rapid City, S.D., formally of Pine Ridge, S.D., passed away Monday July 6, 2026, at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, S.D., with her family by her bedside.
Essie was born Nov. 1, 1940, in Pagosa Springs, Colo., to parents William (Bill) and Allie Mae Jackson. Her childhood was spent on the family ranch located 5 miles south of Pagosa Springs. She graduated from Pagosa Springs High School and attended Colorado State University.
She married John W. Kirk, of Pringle, S.D., on Aug. 29, 1958. After working several ranches in Wyoming and Eastern Colorado, they eventually settled in Pine Ridge, S.D. From this union they had six children: Mary, John, Shawn, Brian, Erin and Kevin.
It was during this time that Essie became involved in the emergency medical services. She determined to create a formal ambulance service and spent the next 21 years as its director. An accomplishment that she was most proud of.
Essie married Bernard White Face on Sept. 22, 1980, and to this union were born two children, Rebecca and Megan.
Essie went on to work in the Red Cloud school system for 17 years as a teacher’s aide. She often shared her greatest reward was working with the more challenging students one on one.
Although Essie felt her children were her greatest accomplishment, she enjoyed sewing, playing hymns on the piano, dancing the jitterbug and supporting her kids in all of their activities. She enjoyed watching a good basketball game.
Essie is preceded in death by her parents, William (Bill) and Allie Mae Jackson; brothers Bill, Thomas and John Jackson; and her sons, John W. Kirk and Kevin J. Kirk.
She is survived by son Brian (Jean) Kirk; daughters Mary Kirk, Shawn (Brett) Riggs, Erin (Jay) Selby, Becki (Jeremy) Dixon and Megan White Face; 10 grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
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