EAGLE BUTTE, SD – Zane Arpan, 81, of Eagle Butte, passed away Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. MDT, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. MDT, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis. Wake services will be at 7:00 p.m. MDT, Monday, June 15, 2026, at the church.
Zane Stephen Arpan was born on February 25, 1945, in Isabel, South Dakota, to Steven and Florence (Larrabee) Arpan. He joined his older brother, Ken, and sister, Alida.
Zane attended Brainerd Indian School and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School, graduating in 1963. He attended Northern State College in Aberdeen for one year before deciding that college was not the path he wished to pursue. Joining the United States Army in 1965 brought about a change in his life and set him on a path that reflected his independence and the many gifts God had given him. Zane served three tours in Vietnam from January 1966 through December 1968.
After returning home from military service, Zane married Mary Louise Dupris. Two sons, Ashley and Barry, were born to this union. He later remarried, and two more sons, Charles and Zane Lee, were born. Eventually, Zane entered a third marriage, and as the saying goes, “the third time’s the charm.” He met Haroldine Hill, and they were married on January 11, 1991. Through this union, three additional children became part of his life: Randolph, Paula, and Carly.
Because Zane never had daughters of his own, he felt especially blessed when many of his grandchildren were girls. He also helped raise three of Haroldine’s granddaughters—Nicole, Candace, and Lily. These young women continue to carry forward the values and guidance they received from Zane, growing into strong, intelligent, and accomplished individuals.
Around 2020, Zane received an unexpected phone call from a young man who had completed a DNA test. The young man had come from Vietnam with his mother. Through this discovery, Zane learned that he had another son, MyTvan, who was welcomed into the family with open arms.
Following his military service, Zane became a man of many accomplishments. Alongside Keith Annis and Norman Schuler, he helped establish an ambulance service. This was only the beginning of the many jobs, projects, and leadership roles he would undertake throughout his life.
In the early 1970s, Zane worked with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Police Department as a police officer and later became Chief of Police, a highly respected position at that time. During this period, he also served as the tribe’s Planning Director, coordinating research, planning, and funding for numerous projects, including the sanitary landfill, outpatient clinic, indoor swimming pool, and many others.
Another position he was especially proud of was serving as Executive Director of the Tri-County Water Association. This project greatly benefited existing tribal housing, supported the development of new homes, and improved range management systems for both Indian and non-Indian ranchers.
In the early 1980s, Zane served as the Administrative Officer and Executive Planner for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. These positions expanded his leadership experience and allowed him to supervise a variety of tribal programs. His thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for life led him down many more paths. He later became Superintendent for Arpan Construction, served on the bridge inspection team for Aaron Swan & Associates, and worked as General Manager for CRST Trucking and Construction.
In 1990, Zane founded Lakota Improvement, a company that became his pride and joy. The business employed many workers throughout the years. He especially enjoyed hiring young people, often saying they could learn new things because they had not yet developed bad habits. Zane took great pride in seeing the results of his employees’ hard work. He often spoke of “planting the fence posts” and watching the seeds he planted grow into something meaningful.
After dissolving Lakota Improvement, Zane became Director of the CRST Transportation Department, a position he held for approximately 10 to 12 years before retiring. While he enjoyed retirement to a degree, he missed working with his hands, challenging his mind, and collaborating with people who pushed him to think and grow.
In 2025, Zane was diagnosed with cancer. The disease eventually took much from him, but it never diminished the qualities that defined his life. He remained a man of enthusiasm, integrity, a strong work ethic, and an unwavering desire to learn. An avid reader, he loved researching and expanding his knowledge. Zane lived a long, productive, and fulfilling life with no regrets.
Zane is survived by his wife of 35 years, Haroldine; sons, Ashley (Bonnie), Barry, Charles (Michelle), Zane Lee, Randolph (Jenny), and MyTran (Cindy); daughters, Paula and Carly (Terry); grandchildren, Sean, Charles, Aurora, Charlotte, Victoria, Nicole, Candace, Lily, Tiffany, Jazzlyn, Bobbijo, Randy Jr., Logan, and Lane; great-grandchildren, Noah, Jada, Jordan, Niya, Skylar, Zane, Gracie, Freya, Maste, Zayden, and Lane; nieces, Dawn and Darla Red Bear Bacon; nephew, Damone; brother, Kenneth; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Zane’s arrangements.
