Funeral services for 82-year old Duane Pourier are Sat, April 6, 2024 at 10:00 at the Rockyford School Gym in Rockyford, SD, with Father Peter Klink, SJ, and Deacon Bill White officiating and traditional Lakota services by Doug Patton with Rob Lawrence and the Cheyenne Creek Singers the drum group.
Cremation will follow services with burial at a later date
A one-night wake service starts Friday, April 5, at 3:00 at the Rockyford School Gym
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Duane Lawrence Pourier Sr “Tasunka Gleska” (Spotted Horse) was born on August 5, 1941 in Pine Ridge, SD to Hobert Pourier and Isabelle (O’Rourke) Pourier. Duane made his journey to the Spirit World on March 29, 2024 at the Oglala Sioux Lakota Nursing Home near Whiteclay, NE.
Duane grew up in Porcupine, SD, where he attended school at Rockyford Day School and Porcupine Day School. His father Hobert raised racehorses and Duane became a jockey many times for his dad.
Duane broke many horses when he was younger and raised bucking horses, which he would sell at the Black Hills Stock Show. He had a passion for horses and passed it on to his children.
Duane married Marilyn (Sherman) Pourier in 1958 and had his first 5 children with her.
He participated in the Indian Relocation Act and they then moved to Dallas, TX in 1959, where he attended a trade school to be an auto body and fender man. He repaired a lot of dents for many people when he returned home in 1961 and opened his own little body and fender shop at his home.
Duane met Loretta Giago in 1980 and had 3 more children with her.
Duane worked at IHS in Pine Ridge for 34 years in maintenance, then did the for the BIA after IHS for 2 years before working at the Visitor Center for the Interior Department for a year.
Duane moved to Rapid City and worked for Sioux San Hospital in maintenance for 2 years, then moved home and worked at Wolf Creek School before transferring to Rockyford School where he spent 17 years as a bus driver.
Towards the end of his days, he spent time with his family at the nursing home and they made sure he was never alone. He kept reminding them how much he loved them and not to worry everything was going to be alright. His kids: “I love you dad,” Dad: “I love you more.”
Duane is survived by his wife Loretta Giago Pourier; his children Duane Pourier Jr, Derek Pourier, Desiree Pourier, Paul (Toni) Giago, Virgil (Toni) Poafpybitty, Lonnie Pourier, Jonnie (Bill) Clifford, Larry (Lisa) Pourier, Lori (Chris) Pourier, and Walt (Allison) Pourier and their mother Marilyn Sherman Pourier; his brother Delbert (Judy) Pourier; sisters Deanna Pourier and Phyllis Pourier; grandchildren Heather Pourier, Dominic Santos, Derek Santos, Monty (Sarah) Clifford, William (Sheena) Clifford Jr, Hattie Tobacco, Holly Clifford, Shaelynn Clifford, Shahiyela Eyre, Paula (Jacob) Running Shield, Laree Pourier, Patrick Tommy Clifford, Makiya DeerInWater, Nicole Pourier, Danielle Pourier, Leala Pourier, Bristol Pourier, Isabelle Pourier, Loretta Pourier, Gianna Pourier, Brielle Pourier, Giovani (Tyus) Mills, Azriel Mills, Ezio Pourier, Samantha Giago, Paul Giago Jr, Sophia Giago, Kiana Poafpybitty, Nomi Poafpybitty, Virgil Poafpybitty Jr, and Ava Poafpybitty; 19 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents Hobert and Isabelle (O’Rourke) Pourier; stepmother Olivia (Black Elk) Pourier; brothers Dennis Pourier, Cecil Pourier, Lester Pourier, Pat Pourier, and Curtis Pourier; sisters Edna Pilcher, Lavonna Richards, and Carol Jacobs; and grandson Travis Pourier.
Pallbearers will be Scott Clifford, Sean Pourier, Cash Pourier, Tim Jacobs, Ralph Gutierriz, and Rob Lawrence
Honorary pallbearers: Will Clifford Jr, Bill Clifford Sr, Chris Eyre, Lisa Zeilinger, Paula Running Shield, Paul Giago, Cindy Jacobs, Jim Jacobs, Chuck Jacobs, Myron Pourier, Cody Pourier, Shane Clifford, Wayne Clifford, Harold Pourier, Spur Pourier, Pierre Pourier, Sonny Pilcher, Donnie Pourier, Darrell and Howard Hunter Jr, Bubber Tommy Pourier, Shawn Swallow, Sam O’Rourke, Jim Murphy, Isaac Florez, Gutierriz Family, Father Peter Klink, Dr McDowell, Bill White, Bob White, Dale Vocu, Junior Jumping Eagle, Rockyford School Staff, IHS Staff and his nurse Jazzy, Wolf Creek School, Oglala Sioux Lakota Nursing Home Staff, and all friends and family.
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD