Maida LeBeau

Maida Joyce LeBeau, Wi há pi tayétu Wi (Evening Star Woman), 86, formerly of Eagle Butte, passed away Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Monument Health in Rapid City surrounded by her family.

Funeral services were Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte. Burial was at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

On September 30, 1935, Maida was born at home to James White Feather and Louise Fisherman-Jones in Cherry Creek. Like many of her generation, she developed tuberculosis and at age six was admitted to the Sioux Sanitorium in Rapid City. Maida resided there until she was discharged in her early teens.

Upon her release from Sioux San, she lived with her grandmother, Sophie Fisherman, in Cherry Creek. She finished her schooling at the Cheyenne River Boarding School. Following high school, Maida went to Haskell Institute in Lawrence, KS, for pre-nursing.

After returning to South Dakota, she was blessed with a daughter, Jerilyn. In mid-1960, she moved to Chicago, IL, where she attended cosmetology school. She lived in Dupree upon her return.

She met the love of her life, Wesley LeBeau, at the Cheyenne River Boarding School. Although they knew each other during that time, it wasn’t until after they graduated that they became re-acquainted. Wesley played in a band called The Castaways, who played at various venues in the area. They fell in love, were married on January 19, 1968, and were blessed with three more daughters: LaDonna, Doriann, and LeNae.

Their education, work, and volunteer activities spanned from Dupree to Blackfoot, Newell, Rosebud, Springfield, Mobridge, Eagle Butte and Rapid City.

Her early career began as an assistant for an educational program, Operation Mainstream, and as a teacher’s aide in Dupree. She worked for Head Start in Springfield and at St. Martin’s Academy Catholic School Emporium (to assist with their daughter’s school tuition) in Rapid City. In Eagle Butte, she worked at the school cafeteria in later years.

She and Wesley lived most of their lives in Eagle Butte, where Maida was predominantly a stay-at-home mom. She was adamant about higher education for her children and grandchildren and was extremely proud of their accomplishments.

Maida always held a deep love for her Oyate and the Tribe. She was passionate about advocacy and was actively involved in attending council sessions and providing wisdom and insight.

Following Wesley’s retirement, they moved to Rapid City.

Maida is survived by her husband Wesley LeBeau of Rapid City; four daughters, Jerilyn (Brent) Church of Rapid City, LaDonna (Charles) LeBeau-Stephens of Colorado Springs, CO, and Doriann LeBeau and LeNae LeBeau of Rapid City; step-daughter, Vivian Schaeffer of North Apollo, PA; grandchildren Cy Church, Trevor Church, Dorilynne Collins, Courtney Collins, Korea Collins, Daniel Stephens, Dillon Stephens, Henry LeBeau, Liliana LeBeau, Mylie LeBeau; Machpiya Umpo Wi Bowker (hunka granddaughter); Melda and Melvin Garreaux (hunka sister and brother) in addition to members of the Fisherman/Takes the Knife, Little Wounded, Frazier, Vance, LeBeau, Ducheneaux, and Hertz tiospayes.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James White Feather and Louise Fisherman (Jones); stepfather Seymour Jones; grandmother Sophie Fisherman; sisters Flora Little Wounded and Ernestine Frazier; brothers baby Thurman White Feather, Burleigh White Feather, Duane White Feather, Melvin White Feather, and Jerry White Feather; and nephews Thurman Little Wounded and Darrel Dean Vance.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of arrangements.