June 27, 1932– August 28, 2023
A Celebration of Life service for Delbert Frances “Pete” Longbrake, 91, of Dupree was held Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at the Dupree Rodeo Grounds. Burial was in the Dupree Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Pete passed away Monday, August 28, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood.
Delbert Francis “Pete” Longbrake was born June 27, 1932, on Rattlesnake Creek in rural Ziebach County. He was the fourth of nine children born to Delbert and Marietta (Bridwell) Longbrake. He lived in the same rural area his entire life, moving a few miles from where he was born, to Ash Creek.
He attended two years of country school near home, and then attended Cheyenne River Agency Boarding School, graduating in 1950. He worked for area ranchers in his young life (Butlers, Johnsons, Frames, Bachmans, Knights, Western Cattle Co.) while also helping his mother at home. He broke a lot of horses, did what he needed to do and made many lifetime friends in the area.
He was drafted into the Army in January of 1953. He boarded the USS Missouri on his 21st birthday and spent 14 months in Korea. He was honorably discharged in January 1955. Pete returned home to start his rodeo and ranching career.
He started riding bucking horses after watching Chauncy Mandan ride a bronc. Pete was about 14 years old and knew that’s what he wanted to do. He won championships in the SDRA, NRCA, AAIAA, GPIRA and National Old Timers Rodeo Association. Pete competed in every event he could. He rode broncs, roped and steer wrestled
June 27, 1932– August 28, 2023
into the 1970s. He rode his last competitive bronc in 1973 at the Pat Byrne Match on McInerney’s Curly Wolf aka Frontier Airlines that went on to be several times RCA saddle bronc of the year.
Pete got the itch again in 1979 and started riding broncs in the NOTRA, going to the finals every year, riding for the last time in 1987.
Pete was good friends with Eddie Bachman, a neighbor and stock contractor, from whom Pete purchased mares and started raising his own bucking horses. He formed C & L Rodeos with Lee Crowser in 1972, producing rodeos. After Lee’s passing in 1989, Pete started Longbrake Rodeos and later partnered with his son Bud.
Pete built an arena at home in 1958 and held many practice sessions there. Many young cowboys have gotten on horses in this arena and started successful rodeo careers.
Pete was an avid boxing fan. He started boxing in high school at the Agency School with Harold Shunk and continued boxing in the military. He started coaching boxing at Cherry Creek in 1973, later continuing at Dupree and Eagle Butte, coaching through the years with Jess Knight, Dick Schrempp, Dean Schrempp and Gib LeBeau. He tutored many local and national youth champions.
Pete and Faye Nordvold were married in August 1958 at the Timber Lake Days of 1910 Rodeo Arena and lived on Ash Creek. They had sons, Delbert in 1959, Jake in 1960, Bud in 1962, and daughter Charlie 1963.
They bought the Cherry Creek Trading Post in January 1971. It was lost to fire in 1973. Pete was the postmaster in Cherry Creek for 11 years. He also ranched and rodeoed during that time. He was Ziebach County Commissioner for 26 years.
Pete joined AA in 1979 and stayed involved the remainder of his life. He met a lot of good friends and was proud to be a part of AA.
Pete was a proud member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. On June 27, 2012, the CRST proclaimed “Pete Longbrake Day” in honor of his 80th birthday.
Pete is survived by sons Delbert (Mona) Longbrake, Jake (Cindy) Longbrake, Bud Longbrake; daughter Charlie (Harlan) Bradshaw; special friend Mona Williams; sister June (Don) Gray of Albuquerque, NM; and sisters-in-law Beverly Longbrake, Judy Longbrake and Sandy Ward; nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Delbert and Marietta Longbrake; brothers Lawrence, Jack, Jamie, Ron, Bill, and Jerry; sister Jean Dillabaugh; grandchildren Jake T. and K.C. Longbrake and dear friends, Jess and Edie Knight.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the Dupree Rodeo Committee, PO Box 92, Dupree, SD 57623.