Funeral services for 81-year old Leon Adams Sr are Sat, June 17, 2023 at 11:00 at the Pine Ridge Elementary School Gym in Pine Ridge, SD, with Joyce Tibbitts officiating and traditional Lakota services by Waylon Gaddie
Burial is at the Johnson Memorial Presbyterian Cemetery in Wounded Knee, SD
A two-night wake service starts Thurs, June 15, at 3:30 at the Pine Ridge Elementary School in Pine Ridge with evening services at 7:00 each night and a military roll call after the Friday services.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Leon Joseph Adams Sr was born on Nov 2, 1941, in Pine Ridge to Russell Adams and Sarah Running Shield. Leon Sr made his journey to the Spirit World on June 4, 2023 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Leon was raised near Fast Horse Creek at Wounded Knee and Denby, SD along with his 3 siblings. He attended Oglala Community Boarding School in Pine Ridge, where he graduated high school Class of 1962.
Leon enjoyed school very much and participated in various school activities such as Basketball, Football, Track, and band. He was Class President all four years of high school and President of Student Council in 1960-1961.
Leon was accepted into South Dakota Boys State, was a member of National Honor Society, elected as a Representative at SD Boys State, and received an American Legion Citizenship Award.
Leon went on to attend a little bit of college at Black Hills State University, where he played football, then attended Northern State College, where he took part in Rodeo club before being drafted into the U-S Army.
He graduated from the US Army Finance School in 1967 and served active duty in the Vietnam War between the years 1966-1968. He received numerous awards in the military and was honorably discharged from the Army.
Leon went to complete his schooling and got involved in The American Legion as a member of Sam White Bear Post 251. He received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Northern State College in 1988, then earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota.
Leon became an instructor at Oglala Lakota Community College on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, teaching Business, Economics, Lakota Studies, and Algebra.
He later was highly involved in Student Support Services and was acknowledged for his time helping tutor students at OLC.
Leon was highly educated and used his time to get involved in various veteran activities and programs across the Pine Ridge Reservation and South Dakota.
He worked for the Oglala Sioux Tribe on Veteran Affair issues, served as Commander of American Legion Sam White Bear Post 251, and helped establish the Veterans Royalty for Post 251.
Leon was Certified by the National Indian Training Center for Introduction to Proposal Writing and Revenue Sharing as well as by Workshop Business Opportunities Inc in Business Management Training.
Leon was involved in many Native American tribal programs and worked in various offices for both the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Aberdeen Area office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
He worked as a Contract Clerk, Counselor, and Program planner for United Tribes Educational Technical Center in Bismarck, ND, and was the Upward Bound Director and onsite Counselor/Recruiter at Black Hills State College, helping high-risk students at 9 high schools across South Dakota be productive members of society.
Black Hills State was also where Leon began his involvement in Fighting for Equal Rights for Native Americans. He served as President of the state-charted Indian Club LAKOTA OMNICIYE, and both drafted and initiated the curriculum for the Minor in Native American Indian Studies.
He also served as a Board Member of Lakota Fund.
Leon had a high interest in hobbies such reading, horseback riding, and hand-tooled leather craft projects. In his retirement years, he enjoyed family time – traveling and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Leon was highly respected and greatly loved; he had a great positive outlook on life and always found humor everywhere he was. He will forever be cherished by his family and greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.
Leon is survived by his children Alton Adams, Amber Adams, Sarah Adams, JaShaun St John, Leon Joseph Adams Jr, and Lori Zephier; grandchildren Sarah Jumping Eagle, Tanner Adams, Jordan Adams, Leighton Shangreaux, Dora Shangreaux, Liyah Adams, Lilleighanna Quintana, Leon Adams, Liane Adams, CaCee Adams, Josephine Adams, Seanna Good Buffalo, Briley Adams, Brian Good Buffalo Jr, Aaron Adams, and Oscar Good Buffalo; 6 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces & nephews.
Leon was preceded in death by his father Russell Adams; mother Sarah Running Shield; brothers Russell Adams Jr and Larry Adams; sister Pearl Adams; son Acorn Adams; daughters Liberty Adams and Liane Adams; 3 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandson.
Pallbearers will be Leon Adams, Tanner Adams, Leighton Shangreaux, Briley Adams, Mahpiya Catches, TJ Sullivan, Louis Sullivan, and Tony Adams.
Military pallbearers will be Doreen White Bull, Alvin White Bull, Joe Pulliam, Ramon Bear Runner, Greg Black Elk, Louis Pulliam, Bill Pulliam, Louise Pulliam, Jesse Pulliam,
Honorary pallbearers will be Michelle Standing Bear & Family, Greg Black Elk & Family, Bill Pulliam & Family, Pat Pulliam & Family, Angel Anthony & Family, Dawn Brown Eyes & Family, Faye Black Elk & Family, Lillian Fox & Family, Helene Gaddie & Family, Russchelle Quiver & Family, Curtis Quiver, Robert “Beep” Quiver Jr, Brian Good Buffalo Sr, Willie Adams, Mike Adams, Millie Richards, Chuck Richards & Family, George Janis & Family, Roger Tobacco & Family, Richard Zephier & Family, Giago family, Poor Bear family, Tyon family, Vicki Lambert & Family, Delane Provost & Family, Daylene Bettelyoun & Family, Richardson Family, Hugo Hillman, Brian Brewer & Family, Pulliam Family, Bear Runner Family, Running Shield Family, Charging Family, Mills Family, Yellow Horse Family, Sargent Family, Two Lance Family, Bissonette Family, Big Crow Family, Janis Family, Jumping Eagle Family, American Horse Family, Twiss Family, Short Bull Family, Eagle Bull Family, Black Elk Family, All Oglala Community High School Class of 1962 Graduates, Northern State College Class of 1988, University of South Dakota Class of 1989, All Oglala Lakota Community College Faculty Staff, All Drafted Oglala Lakota Vietnam Veterans serving 1966-1968 (U.S. Army),The American Legion- Sam White Bear Post 251(All Past & Present members), American Legion Post 231-Oglala,SD, Post 281- Batesland, SD, Post 302- Manderson, SD, Post 294 -Porcupine, SD, Post 265- Kyle, SD, Post 317- Allen, SD, Post 269-Wanblee, SD; All Nursing Staff at Avantara North Health Care Center, Fort Meade VA Medical Center, VA Medical Center of Hot Springs, All Heart & Cardiology team in Monument Health Hospital, Monument Health ER Nursing Staff, and all friends & relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD