It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Novlyn “Penny” Ann Hairy Bird. Novlyn was born on June 25th, 1952 and made her journey to the Spirit World on August 29th, 2025 at the Avantara Mountain View in Rapid City, SD. She is survived by her children, Casey Lopez, Viola Lopez, Sammy Lopez, and her siblings Ramona Breeze, Liza Mazarin, and Harold Breeze.

Novlyn lived a life rooted in love, generosity, kindness, and deep cultural connection. She ensured her children remained close to the Lakota ways and always had opportunities to travel and grow through meaningful experiences and encounters with others. Over the past two months, Novlyn’s son, Sammy, has taken unpaid time off from work to be by her side and provide her with the best support and care. Sammy is a single father who has also stepped up to raise his nephew while his sister is incarcerated. We are humbly asking for your support to help cover the costs of the funeral services, as well as the bills that have accumulated during Sammy’s unpaid time away from work. Any contribution will go a long way and is deeply appreciated as their family navigates this difficult time. Thank you.