Roland D. Roach Sr., 84, of LaPlant, passed away, Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at Cheyenne River Health Center.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., MDT, Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at All Saints Catholic Church, Eagle Butte with Fr. John Paul Trask presiding. Burial will follow in the Roach Family Cemetery, LaPlant. A wake service will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at the church. A procession will take place from the 4-Mile at 4:00 p.m.

Roland D. Roach was born on May 25, 1937 to Elizabeth Yellow Owl and Anthony Roach.  He grew up in Cherry Creek, South Dakota and went to school there until he began high school at Cheyenne River Boarding School.  Roland worked on ranches near Cherry Creek, he loved rodeo’s, bronc rides and later, roping, also old men’s roping.

In late 1959 he met Barbara Lee. Roland and Barbara had six children, Franny, Roland Jr., Brian, Shane, Ronald, and Cammy.  They lived in Cherry Creek and were actively involved in the Catholic church there. He was also involved with the church conference, Tekawitha Conference, a conference that goes all over the world, and Roland brought it to Cherry Creek.  Roland was also involved with community events. He was the president of different organizations there, 4-8 Board, which he and Madonna Abdalla began working on getting the blue gym for the community of Cherry Creek. He was on the School Board, CRST Telephone Board, from these boards he learned a lot and always gave his opinion.  He loved to play horseshoes, everywhere he went, he won.  He was a State Champion horseshoe player and was always honored by his family, his sons also honor him by their love for the game of horseshoes.

Roland and Barbara moved to LaPlant in 1989 and he started working for the CRST Prairie Management Program. There he became good friends with Jamie White Eyes and was always grateful that Jamie helped him get his G.E.D. certificate.  Roland was involved in family activities, outings, camping, fishing, powwows.  In 2010 a group called “Simply Smiles” came to LaPlant and Roland became very close to Bryan Nurnberger who was a member of the group.  He became a special person in Roland’s life and he and Barbara referred to Bryan as their adopted takoja. Bryan renovated their house for them in the country and always wanted them to be comfortable.  Roland always called him “my good man.”  Roland had nicknames for a lot of people, especially family members and all of his takoja’s.  Roland became ill and had his loving family by his side in his last days, he was a very special and well-loved man.  If you knew Roland, you knew that he never had a bad word to say about anyone. He had many friends and relatives and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons: Roland Jr., Brian, Shane, and Ronnie; two daughters, Franny and Cammy; 16 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; three sisters, Annabelle, Rosie and June; one brother, Mike; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and numerous relatives.  We apologize if there is anyone we forgot.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Roland’s arrangements.

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