Funeral services for Alvin Ducheneaux Sr., 78, of McLaughlin will be 11 AM, CT Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Blue Gym in McLaughlin. Burial will be at the Pipe Bear Family Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge, SD. An all night wake will be Friday with services at 7 PM, CT at the Blue Gym. Alvin passed away Monday, December, 19, 2011 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Alvin Archie Ducheneaux Sr.
Cánupa Mahto
"Pipe Bear"

Alvin Archie Ducheneaux Sr. was born to Baptise Ducheneaux and Emma (Hawk Bear) Walking Shield at the mouth of the Grand River near Wakpala, SD. He attended school at the Old Cheyenne Agency in Eagle Butte, SD. Alvin attended college at Springfield, SD from 1957- 1958.

From 1950-1952 he entered the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson. He fought during the Korean War. When Alvin returned from the war he went back to finish his schooling. He took his 11th and 12th grades and graduated in 1953. He entered the Navy from 1953-1955 and on his return he married Alvera (Soft) Ducheneaux. They made their home in Blackfoot, SD on the Cheyenne River and from this union they had 7 children.

In Alvin's younger years he loved to hunt and fish. He and his wife loved to go to pow-wows and dance. They made their own outfits. Alvin worked a lot of various jobs in his life, from ranch hand, to police officer, to much more. He worked as a ranch hand for Kid Rivers Family and the Rice Family. He worked as a security guard in Wakpala, SD. Alvin also worked as a commercial fisherman in Mobridge, SD. From 1974-1977 he was the police officer in Wakpala, SD. He then moved to Fort Yates, ND where he became the Captain of the Police Department.

In 1978 he moved to Blackfoot, SD and became the Chief of Police in Eagle Butte, SD. Alvin also became the Deputy Sheriff for Corson and Sioux County on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Alvin has resided in the Rattle Snake Buttes near Wakpala after losing his wife in 2002. Due to health reasons he has spent the rest of his days in McLaughlin, SD with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Alvin loved his family and loved being around his grandkids and family.

Alvin is survived by his children, Edwin Poulin Ducheneaux and wife Debbie of Canton, GA, Alvena Doretta Ducheneaux and Family of Fort Yates, ND, Donald James Ducheneaux and Family of Bismarck, ND, Alwin Elvis Hawk Bear Sr. and wife Peggy and Family in McLaughlin, SD, Naomi Beatrice (Ducheneaux) Johnson husband Robert and Family of McLaughlin, SD, Lena Marie Pipe Bear and Family of McLaughlin, SD, Alvin Archie Ducheneaux Jr. and Family of Bismarck, ND, Roxanne Ducheneaux of McLaughlin, SD, Cheryl Lish of McLaughlin, SD, Ron Chinn of McLaughlin, SD, Maynard See Walking of Mandan, ND, Nola Taylor of Fort Yates, ND, Sherrie Hernandrez of McLaughlin, SD, Johanna Ducheneaux of Mobridge, SD, special nephew Roger Sulcer and Family of McLaughlin, SD, 51 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, sisters Delma Helman, Irene Haugen, Karen Ducheneaux, Cynthia Fiddler, brother Steven Ducheneaux, adopted sons Gordon Rave, adopted daughter Donna Dean & family, adopted grandson, Daniel Dean, cousin, Charles Murphy, SRST Chairman, adopted brother "Smitty Family", first cousins Sylvia Culbertson and Family and Joyce Ducheneaux and Family, brother-in-law Theophile John Soft Sr., and sister-in-law Bertha Ducheneaux.

He is preceded in death by his wife Alvera, infant son, parents, brothers Louie Ducheneaux and George Ducheneaux, sister Elita (Schlect) Dogg, granddaughter Alissia Hawk Bear, and 2 great grandsons Drake Hawk Bear and Dell Quan Archambault.

Casketbearers will be Ron Chinn ~ Kyle Hawk Bear ~ Alvin Ducheneaux III ~ Alwin Ducheneaux Jr. ~ Shiloh Chinn ~ Wiyaka Ducheneaux ~ Maynard See Walker ~Napoleon Ducheneaux

Honorary Bearers will be Standing Rock Ambulance (Bear Soldier), Mobridge Regional Hospital, Standing Rock Veterans, Cheyenne River Veterans, Standing Rock Tweep Officer, Kesling Funeral Home, Bear Soldier Elderly, Running Antelope Singers, American Legion, Annie Soft and Children, "Mike Hollow" aka Elgin R. Hollow, All the Soft Children, Leonard Chapman, Julius Holy Bear Sr., Helmina and Blanche Makes Him First, Arnold Schott, Mabel Medicine Crow, Terry Lee Obaga, Gerald Smith "Smitty", and Numerous Nieces and Nephews, and We Are Sorry If We May Have Left Anyone Out.