Kris Miner

Celebration of life services for Kris Miner were held on Tuesday April 5, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at the Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, and on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the United Church of Christ Congregational Church in Vermillion, SD, with Native American traditional services. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

When Kris was ten, the family relocated back to the family ranch where she fell in love with the land, horses, cattle, 4-H, baking, and cooking. Kris graduated from Gregory High School in 1986 and attended SDSU, earning a masters degree in counseling. Her daughter Kylie was born in 1992. The cherished mother-daughter relationship was an absolute cornerstone in her life.

Professionally, Kris worked as an in-home family therapist, a county social worker, and a human services supervisor; she also ran a restorative justice non-profit for ten years, continuing to consult and train others across the United States. Kris loved working with crime victims, survivors, former offenders, teachers, and social workers, helping in countless cases of “repairing harm”.

During her life, Kris engaged in Native American spiritual practices, developing many special bonds and relationships. Kris was a member of the Wase’ Wakpa community in Vermillion, SD. She supported and participated in ceremonial practices, and developed significant relationships with many relatives. This community provided an avenue for healing, forgiveness, recovery, and deep bonding and belonging.

Kris moved back to the family ranch in 2015. She raised sheep for a short time and developed a passion for prairie preservation, soil health, and rotational grazing. She also further developed her cooking skills and enjoyed her flower gardens. She continued to do consultation and training in restorative justice and peacemaking circles. In 2018, she became a training consultant with Generation Red Road. In 2019, she became certified in equine-facilitated learning and began offering services with her horses. Kris enjoyed working with the Yankton Sioux Tribe to offer equine sessions for tribal youth. In 2020, she began working for the South Dakota Grassland Coalition, where she served as the communication & outreach director.

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, Kris Ann Miner, age 54, passed away in her home, from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that started in March of 2020.

Kris is survived by her daughter Kylie Miner, her parents Dennis and Alice Miner, and her family and friends all over the world.

Kris is preceded in death by her mother Ann, and many more family members and friends, who all helped welcome her spirit to the next stage of her journey with open arms.