RAPID CITY | On Jan. 8, 2013, Alvin R. Zephier Jr. passed on to the promised land of the Oglala Lakota. Alvin was born Nov. 26, 1943, at the Pine Ridge (SD) Indian Hospital. His parents, Alvin Rudolph Zephier Sr. and Gertrude Ethel (Trimble) Zephier lived in Slim Buttes, SD, at the time of his birth. Alvin attended elementary school at Wounded Knee Day School, Porcupine Day School, and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. He and his family moved to Pine Ridge in 1953. Alvin graduated eighth grade at Pine Ridge Public School in 1957. He then attended high school at Holy Rosary Mission High School and later at Oglala Community High School, where he graduated on May 26, 1961. Alvin attended the University of South Dakota from 1961 to 1962 and Northern State University from 1969 to 1971. Alvin was a very mechanically minded individual who enjoyed the workings of machinery, especially automobile and airplane engines. Upon moving with his family to Pendleton, OR, in 1962, he made the decision to serve the United States of America by enlisting in the United States Air Force on August 12, 1963. He served four years and was honorably discharged on August 11, 1967. Alvin would once again serve his country beginning on March 7, 1981, until his retirement in the late 1990's with the South Dakota National Guard at the Command and Central Headquarters in Rapid City. He began his employment history working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Pine Ridge area office prior to his family's relocation to Oregon. He returned to Aberdeen, SD, where his parents had relocated during his time of service in the Air Force. He obtained a position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Aberdeen area office in 1968. Alvin's first marriage was to Glory Brewer and his second marriage was to Rosalee Montreal. Alvin moved to Rapid City in 1972. He had several places of employment which included the forest service, the gasification plant, and the cement plant. He obtained a permanent place of employment at IHS Sioux San Indian Hospital as a boiler operator in 1980 until his retirement in the early 2000's. Due to the many places he had worked, he seemed to run into somebody he knew everywhere he went. Alvin was an avid reader and really enjoyed assembling model airplanes and vehicles. He also was a collector of rare knives. He strived to learn the Lakota language and worked real hard to devote time to family and friends. He was a strong member of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and enjoyed the many friends he made in that program. Alvin wanted all of his friends and family to know how much he appreciated all the support they gave him. Survivors include his wife, Rosalee Frances (Montreal) Zephier, Rapid City; two daughters, Isabelle Ethel Zephier and Rosalee Frances Zephier, both of Rapid City; mother-in-law, Isabelle J. (Traversie) Montreal, Rapid City; brother-in-law, Gary D. Montreal, Rapid City; two sisters, Francine J. Zephier and Jerome Driscoll, Strongsville, OH, and Adrienne E. (Zephier) Heinz and John, Port Angeles, WA; brother, Richard Lynn Zephier, Batesland, SD; and half sister, Ruth Hotema-Zephier, Dallas, TX. Alvin was preceded in death by two brothers, Guy Wallace Zephier and Harold Edward Zephier; sister, Phyllis Zephier; parents, Alvin Rudolph Zephier Sr. and Gertrude Ethel Zephier; and grandparents, Wallace Zephier and Philomine Zephier, Guy Trimble and Lucy Randall Trimble. A celebration of life and wake will be held at the Mother Butler Center, 221 Knollwood Dr. Rapid City, SD 57709. The wake will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a Catholic rosary commencing at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2013. An all night Lakota Wake Service will begin following the wake. Services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, January 11, 2013 at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, 221 Knollwood Drive, Rapid City, with the Rev. David Matzko S.J. officiating. Burial with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW 1273 and the South Dakota Army National Guard will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.