Mass of Christian Burial for Gilbert LeBeau, age 91, of Eagle Butte will be at 10 AM MT, Friday, September 24, 2010, at the Cheyenne River Community College Auditorium in Eagle Butte. Burial will be in the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. An all night wake will be starting at 6 PM with services at 7 PM at the All Saints Catholic Church. Gilbert passed away Saturday, September 18, 2010 at the Ft. Meade Medical Center in Sturgis.

Gilbert Gabriel LeBeau (11-19-18 to 9-18-10)
A true Lakota cowboy, Gilbert Gabriel LeBeau "Wicasa Nunpa" was born in a log cabin near the Moreau River, on November 19, 1918 to Johnson and Eudora Traversie LeBeau. On September 18, 2010, he passed away at the Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital. Gib was the third oldest of twelve children; Alec, Marie, Elmo, Fred, Sib, Art, Barney, Arlene, Frank, Ramona, and Rose.

When Gib was eight years old his Grandfather gave him the name "Wicasa Nunpa". His Grandfather knew Gib loved working outdoors and he did the work of two men. At the age of 12 he worked on the Work Progress Administration, taking his father's place, who was ill. He attended school in Pierre and graduated from Flandreau Indian School where he was taught to weld. He moved to Minnesota to work in a repair shop as a welder. From there, he moved to California to work at an ammo depot.

In December of 1941, WWII broke out when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. In 1942, he enlisted in the US Navy where he started boot camp at Treasure Island, California. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor as a Seaman III Class. Assigned to the gunnery division, Gib advanced to a Gunner's Mate. His appointed ships were the USS Salt Lake City Battle Cruise then the USS Cassin Young. While on the USS Cassin Young they were under attack by the Japanese. A kamikaze plane flew into the destroyer, killing one of Gib's best friends. It was a loss he seldom talked about. He remained in the Navy until the war ended and was honorably discharged as a Gunner's Mate 3rd class in July 1945.

He returned home to work on the family ranch. Gib started breaking horses, participated in rodeos and went to work at the Diamond A Cattle Company. During a trail ride of horses to Mobridge with the Albert Lopez family, he was bet a Stetson hat that he could not ride a bronc down main street. He picked out his Stetson at Perron's Toggery. In September 1947, he married Marcella Ryan. They had eight children: Daniel, Diane, Richard, Bonnie, Tom, Gerri, Kathy and Donna. Gib worked to support his family in numerous jobs, including rancher, horse trainer (whisperer,) welder, sheet metal worker, miner, machine shop lay operator, blacksmith, CRST Chief Judge, and CRST Public Defender. During the mid to late 50's, Gib worked as a blacksmith in his shop in McLaughlin. From McLaughlin, he took a ranch job for Tony and Ruth Rivers, while Tony was the CRST Chairman. When ranching in the Packskin Butte area, he served as a council representative for the Four Bear District from 1960-1966. From 1970 to 1998 he worked as a tribal judge and public defender for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Gib, a board member, assisted Sydney Keith with the start of the International Sundance near Green Grass. He was an artistic person, making horseshoe tables, God's Eyes, and braiding leather, a self taught art. Throughout his life his passion for creating artwork turned into several small businesses for him with people seeking his art. As a youth advocate Gib showed his deep concern for the youth by becoming a 4-H leader and founded the Cheyenne River Boxing Club. Both clubs Gib coached advanced to the regional and national finals. He gave community youth an opportunity to learn about horsemanship, training, and breaking horses. Upon his retirement he continued to enjoy spending time with his family, working horses, and playing the sweepstakes.

He is survived by his brothers Fred LeBeau, Eagle Butte, and Sib LeBeau, Grand Junction, NE; sisters Arlene O'Leary, Timber Lake and Ramona LeBeau, Sturgis; daughter-in-law Christine LeBeau, Irving NY; daughter, Diane (Bob) Booth, Ridgeview, son, Tom LeBeau, Rapid City; daughters, Gerri LeBeau, Rapid City, Kathy LeBeau, and Donna LeBeau, both of Eagle Butte; grandchildren: Yvette Goesyon, Brandon (Vanessa) LeBeau; LeAnn (Justin) Bennett, Sharon (Stan) Francis, Bethany (Justin) Nephew, Aaron LeBeau, Nathan LeBeau, Daniel LeBeau; Brad Moran; Meghan and Morghan LeBeau; Lori (Greg) Flaitz; Robert LeBeau Booth, Ben Booth; Bonnie (Leon Farlee) LeBeau, Richard Ryan LeBeau, Ryman (Lesli White Dog) LeBeau; Heather (Michael) Hollow Horn, Dawn LeBeau; Wyoma Waters; Nichol LeBeau, Johanna (Travis Short Bull) Farmer, Felicia Farmer, Mattea Farmer; Michelle LeBeau, Jade LeBeau; Jacinda Lind, Lania Lind; Great grandchildren: Terro Goesyon, Terrell Goesyon, Tianna Goesyon, Tehya Goesyon, Brandon LeBeau, Jr., RosaLee LeBeau, Ella Rose LeBeau, Kade Bennett, Lila Bennett, Hector Francis, Jacella Nephew, Jairon Nephew, Richard Flaitz, Johnathan Flaitz, Blake Farlee, Ryia Farlee, LeAunah Farlee, NaShon LeBeau, Richard Ryze LeBeau, Ashten Ganje, Anjali Knife, Adina Waters, Tristan Blue Coat, Tokala Tokahe Waloke, Maka Sa Waloke, Elmora Long Soldier.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnson and Eudora LeBeau; brothers Alec, Elmo, Art, Barney, Frank; sisters Marie and Rose; daughter Bonnie, sons Daniel and Richard; granddaughters Julia Shannon LeBeau and Marcella Booth, Grandsons Faron and Emmitt LeBeau, Lonesome Horse.

Honorary Bearers
Tiospayes: Jim Aplan, Sharon Swift Bird, April Swift Bird, Tony and Ruth Rivers, Pete Longbrake, Jim and Diane Guarino, Mike Ryan, Les and Debbie Ducheneaux, John and Mildred Wall, Steve Emery, Wesley and Maida LeBeau, Mildred Pitt, JR Schad, Ann Walker, Casimir LeBeau, Sebastian LeBeau, Sullivan LeBeau, Kristy Circle Eagle, Harry Charger, Kenneth and Stella Pearman, Little Thunder, Wilson Cook. Eagle Butte U.S. Postal Employees, IHS Staff, Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital Staff, IHS Ambulance Services, Phillip Ambulance Services, West Winds Home Health Employees, CRST Judicial Department, Public Defender's Staff, American Legion Post #308, Veterans of Foreign Wars #7797, All Old Time Cowboys, All Veterans, all the kind souls who took the time out of their day to give him a ride home from one of his walks, Cheyenne River Community Center College Staff. Dr. Nathan Hunter, Eric Reed, Cynthia Cleveland, Bob Booth, Francis Zacher, Oliver Brown Wolf, Bruce Brown Wolf, Brenda Claymore, Kirbee Burgee, Dick Schrempp, Romey Garreau, Theresa Lofton, Lesli White Dog, Clem White Dog, Leon Farlee, Sharon Smith, Lee Lopez, Lyle Cook, Kenny West and Linda Kingery, Jerry and Jesse Keckler, Punch Thompson, Ray Johnson, Stephanie Claymore, Lucas Claymore, Wayne Lovelette, Barry Mann.

Casketbearers: Grandsons: Brandon LeBeau, Nate LeBeau, Aaron LeBeau, Daniel LeBeau, Robert LeBeau Booth, Ben Booth, Richard Ryan LeBeau, Ryman LeBeau, Blake Farlee, Kade Bennett, Tristan Blue Coat, NaShon LeBeau, Accompanying casketbearers: Brad Moran, Brandon LeBeau, Jr., Hector Francis, Jairon Nephew, Richard Flaitz, Johnathan Flaitz, Richard Ryze LeBeau, Ashten Ganje, Tokala Tokahe Waloke, Maka Sa Waloke.