June 13, 1948 – July 26, 2024
Cora Mae Haskell passed away unexpectedly on July 26, 2024, at the IHS Hospital in Eagle Butte after a very brief bout with lung cancer. Cora Mae’s life can best be encapsulated by four words: Family, Faith, Education and Fun.
Funeral services were held August 5, 2024, at the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte Auditorium. Burial was in the Eagle Butte Cemetery.
Cora Mae was born June 13, 1948, in Rapid City to Lawrence and Hilda (Pritzkau) Fish. She joined her older siblings, Jack, Rose, and Ralph “Sam.” She was raised on the Fish homestead north of Lantry. She attended school in Lantry until the 8th grade, then transferred to Eagle Butte High School.
Cora Mae started her family in 1964 when her son, Kenneth, was born. Ken was followed by an army of sisters with Michelle in 1966, Valorie 1969, Nichole 1972, Jackie 1973, and Jessica in 1978.
On December 8, 1972, she married the love of her life Charles “Chuck’ Haskell, Jr. Together they raised their six pack, starting in Lantry and eventually moving to Eagle Butte. In 1988, after the three older kids graduated, Chuck and Cora Mae moved to Gettysburg with the three youngest. They resided in Gettysburg for the next six years before returning home to live on the Fish homestead in her parents’ home.
Cora Mae attended Black Hills State College earning a 2-year degree in Medical Records in 1970, continuing until 1972 when she earned a double major in Business Education. Cora Mae worked at the Cheyenne River Alcohol Program from 1972-1977. In the fall of 1977, she started teaching in the Business Program at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School where she remained for the next decade. In 1988 she and Chuck moved to Gettysburg for the next six years where she was a substitute teacher and worked at Langer’s Family Foods before moving back to Cheyenne River.
In 1992, Cora Mae started at Si Tanka/Huron University (Cheyenne River Community College) and worked as an instructor for the Vocational Education program, becoming the Registrar, then Dean of Students and finishing in 2002 as the Academic Dean. In 2003, at the age of 55, she completed her Master of Science Degree through Black Hills State University.
In 2003 she started at Four Bands Community Fund, where she embarked upon her entrepreneurship and financial education career, changing the business environment on Cheyenne River by teaching finances, credit building, and savings plans. After 18 ½ years with FBCF, Cora Mae retired in December of 2021.
During her career, she served on several local and national boards and received numerous accolades. Her truest passion was serving the Lord and her church, All Saints Catholic Parish.
Her greatest adventures were family camping trips and her yearly trip to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. She loved going to a good concert, dancing and singing. Along with her six children and 18 grandchildren came a host of other children that she considered and loved as her own.
The crowning glory for Cora Mae was the arrival of grandchildren: Alex, Andrew, Deryk, McKenzie (Michael), Chandler, Teygan, Baillie, Tash, Colt, Chance, Kadyn (Tial), Sha’Teal, Kirbie (Kalin), Samantha, Clay, Myah, Stacey and Xander.
Cora Mae is survived by her children: Kenneth White Eyes, Michelle (Chad) Harstad, Valorie Arpan (Chris Johnson), Nichole White Eyes, Jackie Haskell and Jessica Haskell; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a bonus grandson, Gavyn Spotted Tail; brother, Jack Fish; sister, Rose Ganje; sisters-in-law: Patricia Fish, Lonny Laniko Lee (Jerome), Vivian Haskell and Marsha Swanhorst; brothers-in-law: Larry Haskell, Garry (Sharon) Haskell, Delbert (Yevette) Haskell, Robert Haskell and Walter Dean Haskell; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and her cat, Salem Haskell.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; parents: Lawrence and Hilda Fish; brother, Ralph “Sam” Fish; grandson, Deryk Jay Ulmer; fatherin- law, Charles “Chet” Haskell; mother-in-law, Delores Jordan; sisters-in-law: Charlotte Jordan and Bobbie Fish; as well as her bonus daughter, Robbie Marie Birkeland.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of arrangements.