Funeral services for 77-year old Bernard “Dugan” LeBeaux Jr are Friday, Jan 19, 2024 at 10:00 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pine Ridge, SD, with Father Ron Seminara, SJ, Deacon Bill White, and Father Ed Witt, SJ, officiating and traditional Lakota services by Jerome LeBeaux
Burial follows at 2:30 at Pine Lawn Memorial Park in Rapid City, SD.
A one-night wake service starts Thursday, Jan 18, at 2:00 at Sacred Heart Catholic with evening services starting at 6:00.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Bernard Alvin “Dugan” LeBeaux Jr “Saglogan Wakan Wicasa,” one of South Dakota’s past rodeo greats, was born Dec 4, 1946 and made his journey to the Spirit world on Jan 11, 2024 at his residence near Pine Ridge, SD.
Dugan married Jerilene Teller in Window Rock, AZ in 1968. From this loving marriage were born 3 children: Verlin, Duane, and Dijondra.
Dugan claimed the South Dakota Rodeo Association Bull Riding Titles in 1966, 1967, and 1979 and finished as runner-up champion in 1970. He earned the bull riding titles on the Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association Circuit in 1968 & 1971.
As he married into a Dine’(Navajo) Family, Dugan also competed in the Southwest on the American Indian Rodeo Cowboy’s Association Circuit, where he earned a reputation for excellence as he won the AIRCA All-Around Cowboy title in 1972 and the bull riding buckle in 1979.
Dugan was also a top competitor in the All-American Indian Activities Association and later the Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association.
He moved into professional rodeo as well, competing in big shows such as Bismarck, ND; Boulder and Denver, CO; Houston, El Paso, and Odessa, TX; Payson, AZ; and two of the biggest – the Pendleton Roundup in OR and Cheyenne Frontier Days in WY.
A high point of Dugan’s career came in 1973 at the Denver Stock Show Rodeo when he was announced as the World Champion Indian Cowboy in bull riding.
Dugan was an inspiration to bull riders across many reservations and taught the next generation of Indian competitors as an instructor at a rodeo school on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.
Dugan LeBeaux hung up his spurs and retired from the rodeo circuit in 1981, but stayed active in the sport as a rodeo judge. In 2021, for his many arena victories and accomplishments, he was inducted into the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center Hall of Fame, recognized as a Past Rodeo Great.
Dugan was a family man; the longevity of his marriage was his devotion to their children as he always put his wife, children, and grandchildren first.
Dugan is survived by his wife Jerilene LeBeaux; sons Verlin (Lisa) LeBeaux, and Duane (Mary) LeBeaux; daughter Dijondra (Dan) LeBeaux-Ecoffey; grandchildren Jake LeBeaux, Natasha LeBeaux, Dominick Dugan LeBeaux, Danae Ecoffey, Orijona LeBeaux, Daeja Ecoffey, and Araya LeBeaux; great-granddaughters Kalani LeBeaux and Iycis LeBeaux; brothers Gerald LeBeau and Dusty LeBeau; sisters Donna Bettelyoun, Arnelle Skye, Bobbie Jo Clark, Twila LeBeaux, and Lona Vickerman; and hunka sisters Joyce Cook and Jackie Colombe;
Dugan was preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Florine (Goings) LeBeau; brothers Paul LeBeaux, Marlin “Tuck” LeBeau, and Marvin “Butch” LeBeau; and sister Bernadine Weaver.
Pallbearers will be Jake Yellow Horse, Mike Akers, Alsie LeBeau, Brandon Shangreaux, Dan Ecoffey, Jesse LeBeau, Gino Arellano, Darryl LeBeau, Michael D Carlow, Michael Valdez, and Beau LeBeau.
Honorary pallbearers will be Duane Lafferty, Dale McGaa, Ducky Harris, Skinny & Red Colombe, Guy Colombe, Todd Ward, Tuffy Sierra, Bill Means, Bill Ward, Steve Woods, Pat Janis, Vee Janis, Emerald Janis, Elton Yellow Boy, Mike Heathershaw, Coy Fisher, Dick Marshall, Mike Twiss, Donnie Pourier, Davey & Tiny Pourier, Casey Means & Family, Jim Meeks, Eugene & Alvin Charley, Marv Provost, Joyce Goings, Sally Goings, Art Vitalis, Sylvia Tobacco, Steven Vitalis, Gwen Colhoff, Joe & Angie LeBeau, Tali Fast Wolf, Eddie & Mary Martinez, Tito & Cheryl Arguello, Bernadette Todacheene, Knight Family, Gunville Family, Ecoffey Family, Teller Family, Small Family, Hunter Family, Longbrake Family, Jacobs Family, Traversie Family, Ducheneaux Family, Keith Family, Carlow Family, Lawrence Family, Salway Family, Monument Cancer Care Institute, Oglala Sioux Tribal Housing, All Rodeo Family, All Cowboys & Cowgirls, and All nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD