Gary Bad Warrior Sr. | 1948 - 2024
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Feb 5, 2024 | 12:22 PM / 227 views
Gary Bad Warrior Sr., 75, of Eagle Butte, passed away Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. MST, Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bear Creek. Wake services will be 6:00 p.m., Monday, February 12, 2024, at the church with a procession from the 4-mile at 4:00 p.m.
Gary was born on May 22, 1948, at Cheyenne River Agency, SD to Oscar Bad Warrior and Maethel Butcher. He comes from the Elk Head and Crazy Horse Tisospayes. His Lakota name was “Sungila Sapa” Black Fox. Gary was baptized on August 15, 1948, at St. James Church in Bear Creek Community. He grew up in Bear Creek, SD. Gary went to Bear Creek Day School until 1959. Gary was promoted to 9th grade on May 22, 1963. During his high school years, he was involved in sports such as basketball and softball. He graduated from Cheyenne Eagle Butte High School on May 25, 1967. After high school, Gary enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968, he was deployed to Vietnam. After Vietnam, he moved back to South Dakota where he worked as a cook at the CEB Cafeteria, IHS as a janitor and a maintenance worker at the CR Housing Authority. His favorite hobby was working on vehicles, and he loved playing softball with his brothers, family, friends, and children. For many years they were on the road every weekend, traveling to tournaments with his brothers and children. He was a self -taught mechanic and shared this love with his brothers Louie and Steve. In his later years, he enjoyed watching and coaching softball. He had several softball teams named Gary ’s Team and Zuya Sica. Gary was the biggest fan of his children’s and grandchildren’s sports and school activities. He was very outgoing and enjoyed visiting and joking with family, friends and new acquaintances. He could often be caught listening to Lakota hymns that reminded him of his mother and his Lala Sam Butcher.
He met the late Rita Yellow Lodge and to this union, Milton, Mike, and Myron were born.
He met Delilah Charger and to this union, twins Terry, Gary and Robin were born. He met the late Pauline Eagle Chasing and to this union, Jody, Jackie, Jayme, Jerylin, Jovanna, and Joni were born. He met the late Mary Louise Horn and to this union, Jocelyn, Wade and Chad were born. He met Melissa Curley and to this union, Troylynn, Tori and Randi were born. Gary’s health started failing him and he was in need of a kidney. He received his first kidney transplant from a donor in the early 1990s. Unfortunately, that kidney failed and required another kidney. Gary Jr. was tested and was an approved donor. Therefore, on February 14, 1997, he was gifted a kidney from his son, Gary Bad Warrior, Jr. They spent a week in Minnesota to recover and returned to South Dakota. We would like to thank Gary Jr. for giving our dad more time to be with loved ones. With this gift he was given the opportunity to meet new grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gary will be remembered for his genuine friendship and charming personality. He could tease you like no other. He will be remembered as a loving brother, father, grandfather, uncle, and relative that would check in with everyone.
Gary will be greatly missed by his surviving children: Terry Bad Warrior, Gary Bad Warrior, both of Eagle Butte, SD, Robin (Leon) Bad Warrior, McLaughlin, SD, Jody Bad Warrior, Eagle Butte SD, Jackie (Donovan) Hart, Scottsdale, AZ, Jayme (Marlene) Bad Warrior, Albuquerque, NM, Jerylin Bad Warrior, Eagle Butte, SD, Joni Bad Warrior, Sioux Falls, SD, Jocelyn Bad Warrior, Wade Bad Warrior, Troylynn Curley, Tori (Alex) Chasing Hawk, all of Eagle Butte, SD and Randi Curley, Sioux Falls, SD; hunka daughter, Laura Red Fox, Sioux Falls, SD; hunka granddaughter, Genevieve Iron Lightning, Eagle Butte, SD; siblings: Dewey (Pat), Steve (Tisha), Wanda (Neil), Philomine (Mark), Judy and Christina; hunka brother, Calvin Edwards; and many grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces and nephews whom he was proud of.
He is preceded in death by his father, Oscar Bad Warrior; mother, Maethel Moran; children: Milton, Michael, Myron, Chad, and Jovanna; hunka daughter, Paula Red Bird; siblings, Toni Peterson and Louie High Elk Butcher; grandchildren: Jeri Lynn Bad Warrior, Sarah Eagle Horse and Ronni Big Back; nieces and nephews; and longtime friend, Thomas “Moose ” Sand.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Gary’s arrangements.