A Mass of Christian Burial for 68-year old Fredrick Heathershaw will be Monday, Jan 31, 2022 at 11:00 at St Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Rapid City, SD, with Fr Ed Witt, S.J., officiating.
Burial will be at a later date at the Heathershaw Family Ranch.
Visitation is Sunday, Jan 30, from 5:00-7:00 PM, also at St Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Rapid City with Rosary Services starting at 7:00 PM.
Fredrick Dean Heathershaw was born on April 28, 1953 in Rapid City, SD to Charles and Verna (Pourier) Heathershaw. Fred made his last and final ride here on earth on January 24, 2022 at the Oglala Sioux Lakota Nursing Home north of Rushville, NE.
Fred attended grade school at Rapid Valley and in Interior, South Dakota then went on to graduate from Rapid City Central in 1971. He was an adventurous little boy and continued to be so his entire life. He was a jack of all trades: a talented artist, electrician, wood carver, horseman, movie stuntman, cowboy, but his love as always, was rodeo! He started his rodeo career as a young boy. Many nights you’d find the entire family, brothers, sisters, & cousins, at their grandparents arena, bucking out cows, steers, calves, colts, & anything that grandpa would allow! Always a friendly competition!
Fred continued his rodeo career competing in Little Britches Rodeos, High School, Amateur, PRCA, but his love was Indian Rodeos. Fred qualified for the Indian National Finals in 1978 in the Bull Riding. When his rodeo career was over Fred began to judge rodeos in Montana, North Dakota, & South Dakota.
Fred was a stuntman, wrangler, and an extra for movies such as Lakota Woman, Dances with Wolves, & Thunder Heart. In 1993, he traveled to Meaux France to perform at EuroDisney with the Wild West Show. He served on the United States board for the Canadian Museum of History. Upon his return from France he settled in Montana, working for the Small Ranch & Rumney Ranch. He was a cowboy and guide for the Dude String. He had charm and the gift of BSing which was great for the dude string.
Fred moved back home to the South Dakota Badlands after the passing of his dad, but continued to judge rodeos. The highlight of the year was the Indian National Finals Rodeo where he worked as the out-gate man for several years. He always said he had the best view of the rodeo running the out-gate.
It was from that position where he proudly watched his family compete. He was especially proud when at the end of the week of tough competition his nephews and nieces loaded up World Championships to head home to South Dakota and Montana! Fred was known to many as ‘Uncle Rodeo!’ He loved that title!
Fred was quick witted and always had plenty of stories to make a person smile and laugh! He had a love for his family & friends, always sending them words of encouragement or songs he loved, checking on them as they traveled the rodeo trail.
Fred leaves behind his sons Quentin Heathershaw and Ty Heathershaw; granddaughters, the brightest stars who lit up his world, Erynn & Avia Heathershaw; brothers John (Donna) Heathershaw, Mike (Anita) Heathershaw, and Pat (Jackie) Heathershaw; sisters Marquitte Heathershaw, Marilyn (Rick) Green, and Brenda (Ronnie) Wilson; sisters-in-law Phyllis Heathershaw and Bobby Crawford; and many nieces and nephews.
Fredrick was preceded in death by his parents, Charles & Verna (Pourier) Heathershaw; brothers Chuck Heathershaw and Ronnie Heathershaw; nephew Todd Heathershaw; maternal grandparents Johnny & Pearl (O’Rourke) Pourier; and paternal grandparents Lew & Bess Heathershaw.
Pallbearers will be Myron Heathershaw, Marty Heathershaw, Shane Bies, Newell Bies Jr, Justin Meeks, Jeremy Meeks, Joey Heathershaw, JD Johnson, Malcolm Heathershaw, Matthew Heathershaw, Lex Heathershaw, Chancy Wilson, Rollie Wilson, Jesse Wilson, Joe Wilson, and Gus Wilson.
Honorary pallbearers will be nieces, Veronica Colhoff, Leslie Toczek, Susan Kolb, Shona Ackman, Sharon Bies, Amy Pisha, Jill Schafer, Jacy Halverson, Ashley Colhoff, Heidi Porch, Kristy Stout, Jeannie Jewett, All great-nieces & nephews, Rumny Ranch, Mouse Hall Family, Foote Family, Vinny Michael Family, Craig Iron Rope, Dutch & Ann Lunek Family, Judge Hall Family, Scotty Augare Family, Greg Louis Family, Real Bird Families, Mike White, Loren Pourier Family, Jack Pourier Family, Madeline Steen Family, Sonny Pourier Family, Bea Fisher Family, George Ecoffey, Mark & Tony Clifford Families, Fred Skaggs, Small Families, Frank Lawrence Family, Carmen Livermont, Knight Family, Johnny & Sharon Holloway, Vocu Families, Tater, Marty, Todd, Troy Ward Families, Pete Longbrake Families, Grady Claymore Family, Chuck, Tim, Jim, & Cindy Jacob Families, Cauliflower Families, Donna Hoyt, Todd Buffalo, Anne Hunter Family, Mike Not Afraid Family, Mark & Leslie Cuny Family, Shane Clifford Family, Dean Yellow Hawk Family, Bruised Head Families, Calvin Waln, Waln Family, Water Family, Bird Family, Clifford Families, Tyler & Gina O’Rourke Family, Amiotte Families, Deal Family, Galen Means Family, Troy Heinert Family, Flip Wilson, Monte & Craig Robertson, Buster Berry Family, Extended Heathershaw Family, All INFR Contestants, secretaries, timers, judges, chute help & chute hazards, the many cowboys & cowgirls who have traveled the same rodeo trail as Uncle Rodeo, and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD