Khalid Garreau | 2000 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jul 24, 2023 | 2:50 PM / 722 views
Mass of Christian burial for Khalid Garreau, 23, of Eagle Butte will be held at 10:00 AM (MT), Saturday, July 29, 2023, at the All Saint’s Catholic Church in Eagle Butte. Khalid passed away Friday, July 21, 2023, in Rapid City. Burial will be at a later date under the direction Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Khalid Reese Garreau “Tasunka Ota” beloved son, grandson, brother, cousin, nephew entered the spirit world on Friday July 21, 2023. He was born in Pierre, South Dakota on March 18, 2000, to Heather Taken Alive and Sonny Wayne Garreau. He was a welcomed and cherished member of large tiospayes within the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes.
Funeral services will be Saturday July 29 at 10:00 MST at All Saints Catholic Church in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.
He attended Head Start, first and second grade at Cheyenne Eagle Butte then his family moved to the Black Hills. There he attended Canyon Lake Elementary, then West Middle School and graduated from Rapid City’s Stevens High School in 2018. He played one season of football for West. He played the violin in the band, sang in the orchestra, and excelled in the debate club.
After taking a gap year, Khalid attended Georgia State University.
Khalid loved to travel, something he shared with his Mom. He was fully opposed to moving to Washington, DC for her job. But eventually told her it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Bethany Beach in Delaware was a special place to him they spent many weekends there exploring the Chesapeake Bay. They traveled together to Hawaii in 2015. He traveled to Turkey, and Bosnia for a model UN event. He and Leo explored California together; even driving a Lamborghini to go site seeing. He climbed Machu Pichu in Peru while in High School with his Spanish Class. He spoke some Spanish and even took two years of Chinese. He visited New York City many times with Leo but especially loved Washington DC.
He was brave, independent, loving and fun. He was curious and adventurous–he loved Indian food, sushi, and he was willing to try everything, even kale chips. Everywhere he went he made friends. He was determined and steadfast–so he achieved whatever he set his mind out to. He drove across country with a rez pup wanting to foster it while they lived in DC. Taking a rez dog to the city is quite a feat, but he got it shots, loved it up and on would take him to play at the Ellsworth Dog Park. He interviewed people in the area and eventually found a loving home for Luka.
Khalid graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Science, with emphases in Political Science and Sociology graduating summa cum laude with 4.12 GPA making Georgia State’s President List. He was a fierce advocate for our people. He was proud to have been given his Lakota name in July 2022 by Gerald Yellow Hawk. He was constantly sharing positive uplifting messages on social media.
Khalid adored his family. He loved to call up his Grandpa Wayne on the phone, not for a quick visit–they would sometimes visit for hours. He took great pleasure in hiking with his Mom, fishing and hunting with his family. He got his first deer at 8 years old, and once caught a huge catfish in the Moreau River. He loved fossil hunting with his Dad.
He was a tireless source of compassionate caregiving and support to his Grandma Toni and Grandpa Wayne. This summer, Khalid selflessly stayed home to help with their trips to medical appointments. He doted on his cousins especially Lexi, Claire and Sophia. He also had a special bond and spent lots of time with his little cousin Gabriel; they really enjoyed each other’s company. He loved his role as caretaker, and took his role as older relative seriously, modeling academic excellence, and community engagement.
He was his mother’s heart and her biggest supporter–so proud of her service in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps and as a traveling nurse. They were in constant contact; shared the same sense of humor and loved each other’s company. He was the best of us all, and we were blessed to know him.
He is survived by his mother Heather Taken Alive, Rapid City, his father Sonny Wayne Garreau,
Eagle Butte, his little brother Kingston Reese Garreau, his grandparents Wayne and Toni
(Pearman) Garreau, his Uncle Carl Fast Eagle, Jr., his Aunt Nicole Garreau, his Uncle Alex
Pearman, his cousins Tristan, Alexis, Claire, Sophia, his Aunt Ila Weasel, his best friends
Athena Stultz, Sidney Moore, Ben Daley and his partner of five years, the love of his life, Leo
Benator.
Greeting him in the spirit world are his sibling Htayetu Wicapi Garreau, his grandmother Delores
Taken Alive, his great-grandparents Iyonne and Ellsworth Garreau, Kenneth and Stella Pearman.