Pierre Traversie, 1940-2021
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Mar 1, 2021 | 10:24 AM / 842 views
Pierre Traversie, 80, of Eagle Butte passed away Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Sanford Heath, Bismarck, ND.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., MST, Thursday, March 11, 2021 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. On The Tree. A prayer service will be 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at the church. A procession will start at the 4-mile east of town at 3:00 p.m.
Pierre William Traversie was born March 14, 1940 to Blaine and Edith (Garreau) Traversie at the Old Cheyenne Agency, SD. He was the second of 14 children.
Pierre was raised in the White Horse area in his early years. He attended school at the Old Agency until the school moved to Eagle Butte, graduating from Cheyenne Eagle Butte in 1960.
After graduating, Pierre returned to the family ranch to help his father. He often spoke of the skills he learned which helped him become an efficient and hard worker. He worked for Dale Briskol and Robert Lawrence. He was an excellent horseman, roper, and cattle operator at a time in his life.
After starting a family of his own, Pierre married Beatrice Bowker and to this union, Pierre Jr. “Smokey” was born. The family resided in Eagle Butte where Pierre worked at the BIA School as a janitor. He was later employed with the CRST Food Distribution Program as a warehouse aide for 20 years. He had to leave this position because of his physical limitations.
A few years later Pierre began his career as CRST Court Processor with the Walter Miner Law Enforcement. He was a very efficient worker. He enjoyed the opportunities he had and was very well respected. He retired from this position. Upon his retirement, his life began as a grandparent.
On February 20, 1999, Pierre was united in marriage to Iva Blue Coat. Iva had two children, Joshua and Jimmi Guerrero. They continued to reside in Eagle Butte. On June 2, 2005 Joshua lost his life and on September 17, 2005 Smokey lost his life. In 2013, Pierre and Iva adopted Oliviah Traversie.
During Pierre’s retirement, he enjoyed the responsibilities of Papa to Jimmi’s children: Cicada “Bridie” and Joshua Brown Thunder. As with Oliviah, the children were infants when Pierre fell in love with them and the responsibilities of diaper changing, bottle feeding, crawling, talking, taking naps. When the kids started school, Pierre would take them and loved to attend their school activities. He himself was a great teacher. The takojas learned respect and the importance of love in his family.
As a family they attended pow wows in the summer, going on road trips, thrift shopping and yard sales. He collected kerosene lamps, lanterns, western knick-knacks, horse décor, and other antiques he could afford.
A great part of Pierre’s life were Franklin Blue Coat and Thomas Three Legs Jr. They have known their uncle Pierre since childhood. Franklin stayed with Pierre and Iva for quite some years, often traveling with them. Pierre would buy Franklin his school clothes out of the love he had for him. Thomas, as a child, wanted Pierre as a relative, so he adopted him in the Lakota way (Hunka). At this ceremony, Pierre received his Lakota name. He received the name of one of his great grandfathers, Mato Mni Agla Gla, “Bear By The Water”.
Pierre was a proud decedent of Chief War Eagle. His grandfather, Andrew Traversie, was an interpreter for Chief Hump. Pierre had a sharp mind, a memory of many things and enjoyed sharing his stories.
He will be missed so much. He had a kind and compassionate heart. He loved going to church where he participated in many activities. Above all he loved and cared for his siblings and his parents. He had stories of growing up, their adventures at home, breaking horses, roping with his brothers, riding horse to town on bareback, his rambunctious years in the small community of White Horse, and stopping by the store to buy candy for his younger siblings. He also shared stories of his younger years in Red Scaffold during the time he spent with his Grandma Meeter.
Pierre was active with St. Thomas On The Tree Church, helping the Michigan group that came out to refurbish the church and guild hall. He made some great friends over the years, Fr. Phil, Fr. Mike, Jake & Sharon Hutema, Jon & Mother Nancy Stede, and Fr. Bob Trask of Chicago to name a few. He liked going to church group and gaining Mother Margaret and Fr. Joel Watson as good friends.
Pierre was a great impact on the Blue Coat family, spending weekends out at On The Tree, taking walks, helping fix fence, or working cattle since nephew Jarred Blue Coat invested in ranching in 2020. With the pandemic and travel restrictions Pierre purchased a pull along camper for the takoja’s to stay in, and the summer was spent swimming and teaching the takojas to ride horse, to herd cattle, fix gates, and roll wire.
Pierre’s life will be treasured by his wife, Iva Traversie; son, Corey Traversie of Bismarck; daughter, Oliviah of Eagle Butte; four grandchildren: Ashton, Takoma, Birdie, and Joshua; step-children: Carl Garreau, Tyrell Garreau, Carla Lawrence, and Jimm; special nephews: Franklin Blue Coat, Thomas Three Legs (Hunka), and Jarred Blue Coat; siblings and their children: Beverly (Jayme) Longbrake and their children, Patsy, Mary, Donnie and Marla; Calvin “Red” (Audrey) Traversie and their children, Monica, Donna, and Kim; Elaine (Bill) Ward and their children, Bill, Kelly, Brady, Robin, and Bart; Andy (Hazel) Traversie and their children, Amber, Arliss, Shawn, Dugan, and Ashely; Sharyn (Johnny) Holloway and their children, Randee, Roxee, Johnilyn, and Chuck; Kenny (Susie) Traversie and their children, Blaine, Kenny, Dusty, Bobbie, and Sam; Delbert Traversie children, DelNita, Winston, and Tyson; Paulette (Dale) Rowley and their children, Lisa, Fred, Arlette, Delaine, and Lori; Tom Traversie children, Kella Rae, Luann, Jessica, DuRay, Robert, and Christine; Betty (Roger) Dupris and their children, Rochelle, TJ, Brandon, and Richard; Rita (Jerry) Farlee and their children, Jerry Keith, Leon, Jason, Lizette, and Lucas; Darshan (Robert) Long and their children, Heidi, Kenny, Robby, Janna, and Jace; and Melvin (Kelly) Traversie and their children, Kasidee, Ty, Andy, and Jordan; he is also survived by many other relatives of the Traversie, Marshall, Garreau, and Yellow Hawk decedents.
Pierre was preceded in death by parents; son, Smokey; stepson, Josh Guerreo; brothers: Tom, Delbert and Red Traversie; nephews: T.C. Holloway, Duffy Dupris, and Tom T. Traversie; niece, Jessie Faye Long; and brothers-in-law: Bill Ward, Dale Rowley, and Jayme Longbrake.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Pierre’s arrangements.