The main cities of the Black Hills area grow and prosper, while the reservations sink into an almost Third World environment. The government tries to break the Native Americans of their traditions and culture for many years. They are successful, to a point, but enough carry the traditions in their hearts that they eventually make a return. Ellsworth Air Force is built near Rapid City, giving the area a considerable economic boost. The base was built initially for heavy strategic bombers and a significant series of silos for ICBMs.
Disaster strikes Rapid City.
Heavy rains upstream erode a dam and the resulting flood hits the town with great fury. The U.S. Government finally admits wrong doing in it's dealings with the Sioux and agrees to some financial settlements. In the same year, the 'last' brothel in the Hills is shut down. Federal law enforcement raided the Green Door in Deadwood, putting it out of business, not because it was illegal, but because the government feared that organized crime was using the brothel as a foothold in the region. Early on April 14th, an explosion rocks the hangars of Ellsworth.