Edwin J. Rentz aka, Ed White Bear

Oglala, Rapid City, SD

1934, 793, Hill City, F-9, LEM, scout, Leader
1935, 793, Hill City, F-9, Leader
1937, 793, Hill City, F-9, LEM

Below from the 1933/34 Civilian Conservation Corps South Dakota District History annual.

On January 8, 1934, this company was very fortunate in enrolling Edwin J. Rentz, noted Indian scout.

Mr. Rentz was born May 24, 1889. He enlisted in the cavalry of the United States Army in 1903, being assigned to Troop E of the 8th Cavalry. He served 7 years, 2 months and 12 days in the 8th Cavalry, being rated as quartermaster sergeant and 3 years with the 12th Cavalry being rated as sergeant. He was detached from E Troop, 8th Cavalry and attached to the White Mountain Apache Indian Scouts at Fort Apache, Arizona. Mr. Rentz has seen service in the Philippine Islands, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, China, Guam and Japan. He has acted as interpreter for the Sioux, Navajo, and Apache Indians, Germans, and various tribes of Philippines. In his work with the Indians he has acted in the capacity of Sioux Indian interpreter in various motion picture exploits. The largest of these being in the making of the "Pony Express," and the "Overland Trail." The direction of an all-Indian picture entitled "Primitive Life of the Sioux Indian," was perhaps his greatest achievement in pictures. The location of this picture was at the Pine Ridge reservation.

He has ridden range in various cow camps and has guided a number of hunting parties throughout the Black Hills. He has had charge of Indians on many celebrations, rodeos and shows, He was personally acquainted with Deadwood Dick and was pallbearer at his funeral. He accompanied General Leonard Wood, and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, together with a detachment of Apache Indian Scouts on a sixteen-day hunting trip in the White Mountains of Arizona. He has served as deputy sheriff, court interpreter and U. S. bailiff of Lawrence county, S. D.

He enrolled in the C. C. C.'s January 8, 1934 and likes this service 100 per cent.

Mr. Rentz is known to all Sioux Indians as "Ed White Bear."

Below from The Daily Plainsman from Huron, South Dakota November 21, 1962.

Edwin J Rentz was born May 24, 1878 and died November 20, 1962 as a result of being struck by a car. He is buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery.

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