Carla Rae LeBeau, 71, of Eagle Butte, a member of Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, entered the spirit world Saturday, July 22, 2023, at University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, NM.
Funeral services were held August 4, 2023, at the CRST Bingo Hall, Eagle Butte. Burial was in the Mossman Cemetery, Ridgeview.
Carla Rae LeBeau was born on September 6, 1951, in Hot Springs to Archie LeBeau and Norma Mills. She attended school at the old Cheyenne River Agency, Holy Rosary Mission, Hot Springs Public School and graduated from high school at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte. She spent her teenage years growing up in the BIA dorms during the school months and with family in Rapid City and Eagle Butte.
In her adult years, she worked as dorm matron/manager at the BIA boys’ dormitory in Eagle Butte and was instrumental in developing and implementing the Stepping Stones Program. She also worked with atrisk youth in the Intensive Residential Guidance Program.
In 2001, she and her daughter, Brooke, moved to Del Rio, TX to help care for her three grandchildren:
September 6, 1951 – July 22, 2023
Kaylin, Kacie and Courtney, children of Cody and Lyn White. In 2005, she returned to South Dakota to help take care of her terminally ill mother, Normal Mills, in Hot Springs. After her mother passed, she stayed in Hot Springs working at Tots N Toddlers Daycare and obtained her CDA (child development associate) in the infant/ toddler program. In 2013, she and Brooke moved to Albuquerque to help care for her grandchildren: Madison and Tayden, children of Travis and Zellisha LeBeaux, as well as providing care and guidance to her son Alex and wife Elizabeth Handboy’s five children: Jose, Nathan, Lacie, Devin, and Jacob, and her niece Wanda Little Wounded’s nephews, Dante and Nathaniel, and children, Antwan and Daron.
Carla was a fun-spirited soul who took on many passions, one of which was her love for music and playing the guitar. She had an enormous heart and a wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed playing board games and her laugh was truly contagious.
Carla loved the Lord with all her heart and soul. She led the Lighthouse Church praise and worship team at the Community Landmark in Eagle Butte before she moved to New Mexico. Shortly before she passed, she had told her sister, Kathy, that she was tired and was ready to go home to be with the Lord. Her faith was the definition of strength, determination, and courage.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of funeral arrangements.