Pine Ridge Ministry Team St. Andrews Lutheran Church

03/13/2026

CUSTER, S.D. – Fire crews remained on the lines of the Qury Fire burning southeast of Custer overnight and firefighters continue battling the blaze today.

03/13/2026

10/17/2025

07/01/2025

06/29/2025

Tonight at 815pm, a confirmed tornado was spotted South of Kadoka possibly on the Reservation side. Several homes were destroyed and many homes damaged. CERT teams are preparing to deploy to the area to assist with damage assessment and recovery efforts. Please do not attempt to access the area if youre not a resident. Red Cross will be notified shortly

06/16/2025

🪶 Warrior Spotlight:
Ola Mildred Rexroat (Oglala Sioux)
The only Native American woman to serve in the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) during WWII.

Let’s remember her name. 💫

"Wings of a Warrior: The Story of Ola Mildred Rexroat"
In the wide skies above America during World War II, the hum of propellers was more than the sound of war—it was the call of courage. Ola Mildred Rexroat, an Oglala Lakota woman from the Pine Ridge Reservation, answered that call not with a rifle, but with wings.

Born in 1917, Ola grew up with stories of her ancestors—warriors who defended their people with honor and spirit. She carried their strength within her, even as she studied engineering and worked in government offices. But when the war came, she knew her path lay in the sky.

She joined the Women Air force Service Pilots (WASP), becoming the only Native American woman to do so. Flying non-combat missions to transport planes and train male pilots, Ola braved mechanical failures, unpredictable weather, and the ever-present danger of death—all without the recognition or benefits given to male veterans.

But she wasn’t in it for glory. She flew because it was the right thing to do. Her mission was service, her uniform was pride, and her warrior spirit soared with every takeoff.

After the war, she continued her service with the U.S. Air Force and later the Bureau of Indian Affairs—proving that being a warrior meant more than battle—it meant resilience, sacrifice, and heart.

Today, Ola Mildred Rexroat is remembered not only as a trailblazer in aviation, but as a true Native warrior. Her legacy flies on in every Native girl who dares to dream bigger than the sky.

“She carried the strength of her ancestors into the clouds—undaunted, unshaken, and unforgettable.”

📚 Tag someone who should know her story.