Mass of Christian Burial for James “Jim” O’Leary, 30, of Timber Lake will be at 10 AM, Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake. Burial will be at the O’Leary Family Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 5 PM Friday with a prayer service at 7 PM Friday at the church. Jim passed away Sunday, June 30, 2024 at the IHS Hospital in Eagle Butte. Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge is in charge of arrangements.

James Timothy O’Leary -Ćanté Waśté Wícaśa (Good Hearted Man) Kíchiza Wakúkheza (War Lance Warrior) was born September 23, 1993, to Timothy James and Marcia Annette O’Leary.

He was born an old spirit, surrounded by a family that loved and adored him and in turn he was a man who at his very core loved his family and the land.

From a young age, he was in a hurry. As a toddler, he would stand at the window and watch every activity in the yard. His first word was tractor – which referred to any moving vehicle he saw. His first sentence was “Damn bulls.” And from then on, he was his Father’s shadow, companion and friend.

“Jimbo” or Jimmy as he was known to many, was born into a family with two teenage siblings. Blaine was his big brother and ranch partner from his toddler days and throughout the rest of his short life. His sister, Veronica took her role as his big sister very seriously from the time when he was born to watching him grow into the amazing man that he was. He soon acquired a riding partner, his little sister Laura, and they rode stirrup to stirrup for many miles.

At the age of 11, he would come home from school and saddle up a horse to go south to check cows. Both leaving the yard and coming home, it was always unclear who was happier, Jim or his mount Fox Trotter, a Tennessee walker. He had a hard time understanding why his mother insisted that he carry a cell phone, since he frequently did not return until well after dark. He reluctantly carried one but made it clear that “cowboys don’t carry cell phones”.

At age 12, he was surprised when his plan to purchase a pickup truck was overruled, but he never gave up his optimism that one was in his near future. Over the years, he became an essential part of the herd of kids growing up together on the ranch and rubbing elbows – like stones thrown together in a rock polisher, they all came out shiny. Jim grew up in a household that frequently overflowed with cousins and friends and he learned early in life that his heart didn’t have a limit on how many he could love, that there was always room for one more.

In 2008, he was given his first Lakota name – Kíchiza Wakúkheza (War Lance Warrior), which he carried in honor of his cousin Tanner O’Leary who was killed in Afghanistan. He became a member of the Fool Soldiers Band, a Lakota warrior society, in honor of his lost cousin at that time.

During his high school years, he spent hours riding colts, breeding horses, and rodeoing. He enjoyed training his own horses, one of which he named SOHCAHTOA – after a mathematical formula. Jim was a 4-time South Dakota State High School Finals Rodeo qualifier winning several all-around titles, many bronc riding titles, and performed at the National High School Finals Rodeo. He enjoyed high school sports and was especially known to be fast and fleet on the football field.

After his high school graduation in 2012, he attended Mitchell Technical Institute. He made lifetime friends from his many activities and rodeo. At MTI he obtained his certifications as a Wind Technician and an Electrician. He worked several years for Muth Electric in Williston, Watford City and finally on the Cheyenne River Reservation at the water intake plant. He had learned a great deal and made many friends, in December 2018, he returned home to the life he loved and threw himself heart and soul into ranching.

Shortly before he moved home, around the 4th of July in 2018, he met Megan Simon and there were instant sparks. In 2022, he married Megan, the woman he adored. Jim was the most devoted family man and was never prouder than when he was with his beloved family. His son, Gunner and he had an inseparable bond, especially when it came to ranch work. Jim doted on his spirited cowgirl, Harper, who loved her daddy fiercely. He was filled with anticipation for the birth of his third child Isabella James O’Leary, and is no doubt spending time with her, spiritually, in heaven until her expected arrival on earth in August.

Jim was a force of nature. He had an indominable spirit of optimism and hope; a drive for innovation and the belief that the solution to just about anything was hard work. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who asked. He was known for his quick smile, his humility, kindness, and his respect for those he met.

Privileged to have shared his life are his wife Megan, son Gunner and daughter Harper. His parents Tim and Marcia O’Leary, his siblings Blaine (Rae), Claire, Emmett, Ada, and Tessa; Veronica (Greg) Handeland, Ella, Lily, and Liam; Laura (Thad) Rose and Kason; Tully O’Leary; Doyle and Marcia Simon; Shelby (Lucas) Young; Curtis (Jenney) Simon, Ryan and Renlee; Uncle Dennis O’Leary; Ramona (Gary) Simon; Garrett (Gina) Simon; Rustin (Mitzi) Simon and Caleb; Shanna (Rusty) Gebhardt ; Nancy Deckert; Brian (Calee) O’Leary and family; Steven (Amy) O’Leary and family; Melissa (Chad) Oberg and family; Albert (Deleen) Kougl, Marie (Richard) Gross and family; William (Justine) Kougl and family; Danial Kougl; Jewel (Matt) Poss and family; Mark Kougl; Scott (Rosa) Kougl and family; Danica (Greg) Conway and family; Maurine Kougl; Kelly (Jake) Kaslon and family; and Maggie Kougl.

Preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Mark and Arlene O’Leary, his maternal grandparents Wm Alfred and Patricia Kougl, Unci Lillian Brown, Lala Gib and Unci Marcella LeBeau, Uncles Donald and John Kougl, cousin Tanner O’Leary, Baby O’Leary (2018), Quinn Kougl, Brother-in-Law Heath Simon, and Special Friend Jake Longbrake.

Pallbearers include Duffy Dupris, Ty Traversie, Brady Bickel, Curtis Simon, Lucas Young, Tanner Cross, Thad Rose, Greg Handeland, Blaine O’Leary, Matt Hornick

Honorary Pallbearers include: Jack and Charlie Hornick, Cary Hornick, Mark Hornick, Isaish Hornick, Kenny and Kathleen Meier, Justin and Cindy Lindskov, Cody Kraft, Jordyn Skufcu, Shanna and Rusty Gebhart, Rustin and Mitzi Simon and family, Garrett and Gina Simon, Steven and Amy O’Leary and family, Austin Konald, Alex Lawrence, Marty and Monica Lawrence, Brian and Callie O’Leary and family, Nancy Deckert, Melissa and Chad Oberg and family, Richard and Marie Gross, Allison, Natalie, Rance and Sophia, Jewel and Matt Poss and family, Joan Upell, William and Justine Kougl and family, Duffy and Kat Dupris and family, Jayce Parker, Lawrence and Deb Goldade and family, Colt and Jacque Peterson and family, Tony and Rita Murray, Greg Serr, Brianna and Pierce Keller and family, Grace Kunf, Tully O’Leary, Cody Lawrence, Brent Mareska, the Stradinger family, Juli Haskell, Kelsie Kay Haskell, Bruce and Donna Parker, Annie Chasing Hawk, Ryman LeBeau and Family, Ronnie and Debbie Goldade and Family, Class of 2012, Troy Long, Doc and Charlie Pesicka, Ramona and Gary Simon, Curtis and Jenney Simon, Renlee and Ryan, Lucas and Shelby Young, Ty and Shayna Traversie and family, Joe and Bev Rose and family, Kyle Hapney, Chase Albers, Logan Parr, Lane Alley and Hunter Nehl. And the community/Tiospaye/Oyate that taught, supported, watched over, greeted, cherished and nurtured him into the man that he became.

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