Leon Roger Brave Heart was born on February 25, 1974 at the old Pine Ridge HIS Hospital in Pine Ridge, SD to Lucy Brave Heart. He was a very loving and devoted son to her. He loved to smile, laugh and joke around with people. Leon tragically succumbed to his death on December 12, 2024, in Yankton, South Dakota.
Leon Roger grew up in Manderson with his siblings and went to school at the Manderson Day/Elementary School. It was then he realized that high school was not for him. He had a talk with his mother and she said “Okay. We’ll figure it out” But instead he decided to go off to Job Corps. He promised his mother that he would come back and take better care of her. With a smile she let him go and it was then that he moved to another state. She was very proud of him for his decision. After the death of his mother, somehow, he picked himself up, moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and went to culinary school to become a Chef.
In 1994 Leon Roger was featured in News Weekly Magazine across America. When his brother-in-law George Earring was at the VA Hospital in Portland, OR he saw Leon in the magazine. He was showing everybody he encountered the magazine saying, “This is my brother-in-law”. It was told that George was so proud of Leon Roger, and it was told George had never been so proud of anyone as much as he was proud of Leon.
In his younger years up until he was a teenager, his mother and sisters always shared. He would stay with his sister during the Summer and holidays. They really shared his upbringing. In the last several years he lived in Yankton, South Dakota where he put himself through treatment for his drinking issues. He lived at the halfway house and got a job, saved his money and got an apartment for himself. Leon always tried to do good and take care of himself
Leon is survived by his sister, Theresa Brave Eagle; cousin/brother, John Swimmer; nieces, Darnell Cottonwood of Ft. Yates, SD, Suzette Brave Eagle, Rose Brave Eagle, Rose Marie Brave Heart, Jennifer Brave Heart, and D’Loria Mesteth of Box Elder, SD; nephews, Geoge Earring III of Portland, OR, Martin Earring of Washington, DC, Ethan Middleton, D’Layne Mesteth, and D’Wayne Mesteth both of Box Elder, SD; cousins/brothers, Louis Brave Heart, Jr. of Boise, ID, Elwin, Eli, Anthony, Bill, and Myron Brave Heart all of Porcupine, SD, Larry Brave Heart of Eagle Butte, SD, Garfield Iron Crow of Kyle, SD, Melvin Nathan Mesteth of Manderson, SD; cousin/sister, Shirley Brave Heart-Bear Robe(Johnson) of Oglala, SD, Betty, Marlene, Anita, and Susie Brave Heart all of Kyle, SD, Donita, Pamela Cottier Sisters, Edwina & Jaquelyn; Bald Eagle Sisters, Elaine Mesteth, Pamela Yellow Wolf, Darla Black, Cordelia Turning Hawk; uncle, Wilmer Bad Yellow Hair of Pine Ridge, SD; aunts, Dorothy Broken Leg & Viola Broken Leg of Kyle, SD; brothers-in-law, Johnson Bear Robe of Oglala, SD and Dale Blacksmith of Kyle, SD; and sisters-in-law, Jean Brave Heart, Mona Bull Bear, Faye Bull Bear, Charlotte Richards, Dorothy Nelson, Carmeletta “Dottie” Iron Hawk all of Kyle, SD, Beulah of Porcupine, SD, and Debbie of Albuquerque, NM.
Leon was preceded in death by his mother, Lucy Brave Heart; father, Winfred LaDeaux; brother, Darrel John Brave Heart; step brother, Eldred Oscar Brave Eagle, Jr.; sister, Norma Jean Brave Heart; grandparents, Rosa Broken Leg, Charles Brave Heart, Carrie Brave Heart, & James Brave Heart, Moses Broken Leg, & Lucy Broken Leg; uncle, Stephen Brave Heart; and cousin, Stevie Hall.
Pallbearers will be Rose Brave Eagle, Daniel Brave Heart, Chandler Brave Heart, Verlyn Old Horse, Willie Ferguson, Eric Conroy, Ethan Middleton, Keyshawn Brave Heart, Byron Bear Robe, Shawn Loafer, and George Jumping Eagle.
Honorary Pallbearers will be DeAnna Brave Heart, Jamie Brave Heart, Joseph Brave Heart, Louis Brave Heart, Alphonso Brave Heart, Gaylen, Donna, & Arlene Brave Heart, Waylon “Big Shorts” Brave Heart Jamie Brave Heart, Tia Mai Saknakent, Lindsay Janyce Baustian, Vernon “Buzzy” Black, Jr., Billy Black, Chris Brave Heart, Manuel Mesteth, Madeline Mesteth, Delores Mesteth, Calvin LaDeaux, Donny LaDeaux, Winfred LaDeaux, Russell LaDeaux, Bernice LaDeaux, Jefferson Eagle Bull, Moses Broken Leg, Jimmy Swimmer, Levi Swimmer, Rosemarie Swimmer, Emma Jean Swimmer, Emma Turning Hawk, Donna Turning Hawk, George Broken Leg, Bertha Broken Leg, Pauline LaDeaux-Palmer, Drayton Brave Heart, Stevie Hall, Earl Tall, Betty Janis, Joann Tall, and All Friends & Relatives.
Wake Services: One night wake service starting at 4:00 PM, Friday, December 27, 2024 at the House of Prayer Church in Kyle, SD with Rosary services starting at 7:00 PM.
Funeral Services: 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 28, 2024 at the House of Prayer Church in Kyle, SD
Officiating: Pastor Jeremy Mouw
Traditional Lakota Services: Darla Black
Special Music: Oyuhpe Drum Group
Burial Services: St. Stevens Catholic Cemetery, Kyle, SD
Oh Mama, you have your children, reciting your prayer of The Lord Is My Shephard, and singing your song, “Amazing Grace” with them. Thank you so much.
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD