EAGLE BUTTE, SD – Randy “Boones” Swimmer, 52, of Eagle Butte, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. MST, Monday, January 27, 2025, at CEB Auditorium, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, LaPlant. Wake services will be 7:00 p.m., Sunday, January 26, 2025, at the auditorium, with a procession from the 4-mile at 4:00 p.m.
Randy Merle Swimmer aka “Boones” was born on July 31, 1972, at Eagle Butte IHS, in Eagle Butte, SD to Jennie (Shaving) LeBeau and the late Timothy Swimmer Jr. Sadly, he made his journey to Heaven on January 15, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital, in Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by his family and friends.
Randy started his life out in Swift Bird, SD, where he attended Headstart, then moved on to the Swift Bird Day School, where he attended 1st through 3rd grade. His family then relocated to Eagle Butte, SD where Randy went on to attend Cheyenne- Eagle Butte Schools from 4th grade through 12th grade where he would graduate in 1992. During his high school years, Boones played his favorite sport, football, and was a lineman for the C-EB Football team, playing and lettering all four years. During the summers you could find Boones hanging out, playing ball with his friends at the Indian courts or volunteering his time at the swimming pool, supervising everyone who attended, listening to Metallica along with other heavy metal bands, while showing everyone how to do a proper cannonball. During his time at the swimming pool, he also taught many to swim as well as swim safely. When Randy turned 18 years old, he applied and started his employment with the CRST Police Department as a jailer. When they relocated to the new CRST Walter Miner Law Enforcement Center, Boones was sent to BCOTP in Artesia, NM for 16 weeks, where he graduated and became a certified Detention Officer. After he returned home, Boones went to work at the WMLE Juvenile Detention Center. While employed he helped out in many different areas which included Dispatch, Adult Detention CO, bailiff, and ADF main control. Later on in his employment, he went on to work as the Juvenile Administrator then went on to work as the transport officer. During this time Boones transported detainees to numerous facilities throughout the Tri-State area. He also transported many of his co-workers to and from Artesia, NM for training. He shared many stories of his trips to Artesia during those transporting days. Throughout the years of working at CRST Walter Miner Law Enforcement Center, Boones created many lifetime friendships and memories. In October 2020 Boones had an accident and fell, after going to the hospital to make sure everything was ok, is when a spot on his lung was discovered. Soon after, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. In December of 2020 he started his cancer treatments and in June 2021, he beat it. In 2023 his cancer returned, this time on his liver. He started treatment once again and went into remission in early 2024. His battle with cancer took a toll on his body and this is when he made the decision to retire. After 30 years of service, Randy “Boones” Swimmer officially retired from the Walter Miner Law Enforcement Center, on June 18, 2024.
Boones was a very caring man, always helping wherever he could. He made a huge impact on many lives, especially troubled teens. Boones was well known by everyone in the community for being helpful, caring and kind. He enjoyed doing favors for others but preferred to keep his acts of kindness discreet, not wanting recognition or praise for his actions, he was a selfless helper to everyone who needed it. Boones loved to drive around in his spare time, you could often find him in his car cruising around listening to the Octane, Lithium and Hairball stations and later in his life he started to like county music, which was even a surprise to him. He loved to attend concerts with his friends, music was always a huge part of his life. He always had a smile on his face, laughing, joking, making memes, and always having a good time. In November 2024, the cancer returned for the third time. On January 6, 2025, Boones was scheduled to start his treatments in Bismarck, ND but had become ill that very morning and was life flighted to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Even though he made the decision to fight again, he was tired. On January 15, 2025, surrounded by his family, Boones made his journey to heaven, where his family and friends who left before him welcomed him home.
Boones is survived by his mother: Jennie (Shaving) LeBeau; brothers: Mark Shaving, Jacob Swimmer Sr. and Gilreth Dog Eagle; Hunka Brothers: Jacob, Davey and Duane West and Claymore LeBeau; sisters: Kym Ree Swimmer, Darla Lawrence, Melora (Charles “Chops”) Gabe, and Imogene Swimmer; Hunka Sister Jamie (Kendrow) Eagle Chasing; Uncles: Mike Shaving, Bob (Kathy) Walters, Richard (Jeannie) Walters, Leland (Melissa) LeBeau, Thomas (Reba) Three Legs, and Richard Red Elk; Aunts: Rita Shaving, Sonya Shaving, Norma Shaving, Leatrice Scott, Juanita Zephier, Carrie and Carla Blue Coat, and Ina Traversie; Nieces: Alexius and Reegen LeBeau, Markee’Rae Shaving, Tory Gabe, Carly Gabe, and Mya Baker, Rosie and Alissa Maynard; Hunka Niece: Logan, Shannonlee Lawrence; Nephews: Creighton LeBeau, Jeffrie “Bubba” (Traci) Shaving, Tanner Eagle Pipe, Kirby Three Legs, and Jade Three Legs; Hunka Nephews: Kayson Cavanaugh, Kemper and Lennix Lawrence; Grandchildren: Jaeson, Jaeleigh, Tayleigh, and Taeden Shaving; Cousins: Lynelle Shaving, Waushara (Dominic) Tapio, Jeannie (Derek) LeClaire, Marisa (Jacob) Laundreaux, Markus Laundreaux, Michon Shaving, Gracie Shaving, Sara Shaving, Patrick Tapio, Rod and Denton Shaving, Della Scares the Hawk, Blaine “Pie” Dog Eagle, Libby, Jo, Tina Miner, Virginia Howe, Ben, Fedelia, and Acey Brown, Voleeda Seth, Faron and Waylon Mesteth, Meldina Peters, Samantha Trudell, Jeremy Trudell and Michael Chasing Horse, Randy Shaving, Alana Traversie, Daniel and Ronnie Jr. Black Bird and Allie Jean Moran, Anita Thompson, Carla Lawrence, Tyrell and Carl Garreau and families, Bowker Family from LaPlant, Veaux Family, Clown Family; Grandmother: Margie Clown and family; Uncles: Daryl, Curtis and Larry LeBeau and family; Aunts: Florence Halfred, Clara LeBeau, Ina LeBeau, Brenda Scott and their families.
Randy “Boones” was preceded in death by his father, Timothy Swimmer Jr.; step-father, Archie LeBeau; maternal grandparents, Paul and Grace (Useful Heart) Shaving; grandmother: Lillian LeBeau; paternal grandparents: Timothy Swimmer Sr. and Imogene (Red Crow) Swimmer; Uncles: Clement and Adoloph Swimmer, Gerald, Francis and Charles Shaving, Jonas Bowker Jr.; Aunts: Collette Shaving, Bella White Eyes, Violet Edwards, Lillian Rice, Lily Mae Brown, Delores Useful Heart, Eileen Chasing Horse, Madeline Jeunesse, Beatrice Traversie, Evelyn Veaux and Isabel Slides Off; Nephew: J’Den Shaving; Cousins: Tisha Shaving and Tonya Shaving.
He also comes from a line of Veterans: Useful Heart (Custer Battle of 1876) Levi Useful Heart (Code Talker of the US Army), Peter Useful Heart (US Army), Rufus Useful Heart (US Air Force & Navy), Paul Shaving (US Army), Charlie Shaving (US Airborne 101st), Timothy Swimmer Jr. (US Army), and currently serving as a Staff Sargent in the US Air Force his Niece Deedra Seth. Randy “Boones” was proud of his Military Family.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Boone’s arrangements.

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