Ria Elaine Ducheneaux was born to Ted & Dorothy (Rieger) Ducheneaux on June 24, 1949. Ria attended the Old Agency Indian School, and later, she attended Eagle Butte Middle School, and Immaculate Conception School in Stephan, where she graduated.

She was widowed by Elzie Albert Shows and later in life had two children, Danelle and Wayde.

She loved to travel, cook, watch crime shows, and play cards.  Ria worked at MDU and the Aberdeen Area Youth Regional Treatment Center, where she retired. She enjoyed working with Dean Schweitzer at his butcher shop. Ria always had a quick wit and was always fast to joke.

Her heart was broken at the loss of her only son, Wayde Michael. Her life changed forever at his sudden loss.

She leaves behind her daughter, Danelle Ducheneaux-Paterson; grandchildren: Morgan Stensaas (nee Ducheneaux), Taylor Chance, Sage Paterson; siblings: June (Tom) Ledbetter (nee Ducheneaux), Lynn Ducheneaux, Rolland (Kathy) Ducheneaux, Deana (Tom) Mulloy (nee Ducheneaux), Kay (Terrace) Thompson (nee Ducheneaux); aunts: Vicki (Lester) Berreth, Faith (Carl) Hackleman; nieces and nephews: Allen Ledbetter (Raylyn, Grant, Elizabeth), Maria Hansen (Darren, Cole, Mathew), Carrie Duchenaux, Joey Ducheneaux, Shane Mulloy (Erica and Chayton), Michael Mulloy, TC Mulloy (Shelby and Maggie), Ashley Hasper (nee Klaudt)(Jason, Brayden, Wyatt, Jaxon), Jade Klaudt, Crystal Ducheneaux, Willie Ducheneaux, Doug Duchenaux, Mindy Ducheneaux, Cayden Ducheneaux, Alex Ducheneaux, Corey Ducheneaux.

Ria is with her family again: first husband Elzie Albert Shows, son Wayde Michael, parents Ted and Dorothy Ducheneaux (nee Rieger), brothers Mike and Larry Ducheneaux, grandparents Douglas and Esther Ducheneaux (nee Lebeau), close friends Dean Schweitzer & Linda DuBray, beloved aunts and uncles, and several nieces and nephews.

She will be greatly missed.