Funeral services for 64-year old Leon Takes War Bonnett Sr are Sat, Feb 12, 2022 at 11:00 at the Activity Center in Martin, SD, with Pastor John Poff officiating.
Burial is at St Barnabas Episcopal Cemetery in Kyle.
A one-night wake service starts Friday, Feb 12, at 3:00, also at the Activity Center in Martin, SD.
Leon Takes War Bonnett “Inyan Maza” was born on December 20, 1957, at home in Kyle to Sophie (Kills In Water) and Leo Takes War Bonnett. Leon made his journey to his Forever Home on February 3, 2022 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Leon married Amanda (Apple) in 1975 and they had four children; Leon Jr., Jennifer, Vanessa, and Jeremy. From this union he was gifted with 15 grandchildren. Together they made their homes in Kyle, SD, San Francisco, CA, Martin, SD and Rapid City, SD.
After the children were grown, Leon and Amanda separated with Leon later meeting his fiancé, Melinda. She made her journey to the spirit world, though, before they were married.
Leon attended Little Wound School in Kyle, then went to Oglala Lakota College, graduating with a vocational education degree in carpentry in 1985.
Leon worked for Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Public Safety as a corrections officer at the Kyle Adult Facility. He was committed to this job for many years and had compassion for the inmates.
He also enjoyed the media business and worked in the newspaper/publishing business for 14 years, starting at the old Lakota Times in Martin and Indian Country Today in Rapid City.
He did several jobs including pressman, delivery man and mailer. His last job was assistant pressman at the Bennett County Booster in Martin and he retired when he suffered a stroke.
Leon was a hard-working man and was committed to his jobs. He was also a humble and patient man who loved his Lakota language. It was his first language and after his stroke he forgot English words, but was able to carry on fluently in his Lakota.
Leon was also a self-taught mechanic and passed those skills on to family. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and was all around handyman.
In his younger days, he played independent softball as a pitcher for many years and also played basketball and was involved in leagues. He enjoyed cooking for his family and was considered a skilled gabubu breadmaker.
Leon is survived by his daughters, Jennifer (Jeremiah) Young Bull Bear of Kyle, SD, and Vanessa Takes War Bonnett of Martin, SD; son Jeremy Takes War Bonnett of Sioux Falls, SD; siblings, Marlene Apple of Martin, SD, Lucille (Paul) Mousseau of Rapid City, SD, Cheryl (Marty) Mesteth of Kyle, SD, Ruby (Steven) Smiarowski of Rapid City, SD, and Leo Takes War Bonnett, Sr. of Wounded Knee, SD; grandchildren he adored, Brittany Poor Bear of Rapid City, SD, Wakinyan Takes War Bonnett, Ember & Ares Young Bull Bear of Kyle, SD, Kieran Sharp of Allen, SD, Miya Takes War Bonnett of Rapid City, SD, Kevin, Jaden, Leon III, ShayLee, and LeeShay Takes War Bonnett, all of Fort Yates, ND, Taela & Oscar Takes War Bonnett, Matthew Shangreau of Martin, SD, and Janet Little Thunder; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Sophie Takes War Bonnett; sons, Leon ‘Lon’ Takes War Bonnett and Denny Yellow Hawk; grandparents whom he had fond memories of, Oscar & Jennie Takes War Bonnett; baby sister, Carlita Bush; brother, Ray Lee Takes War Bonnett; and numerous aunties, uncles, nephews and nieces.
Pallbearers will be Wakinyan Takes War Bonnett, Marty Mesteth Jr, Edwin Around Him Jr, Ray Takes War Bonnett Jr, Robert Reddy Jr, Fred Bush Jr, Leo Takes War Bonnett Jr and Joseph Apple Jr.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Irving One Horn & family, Kermit Little Bull, Dave Little Bull, Steven Smiarowski, Marty Mesteth Sr., Paul Mousseaux, Robert Apple, Orin Davis, Inez Little Whiteman & family, Pastor John Poff & family, John & Devonna Bush & family, Kills In Water & Featherman families, Robert & Jackie Reddy & family, Kathy Dubray & family, Amanda & Archie Beauvais and Oglala Sioux Tribe Public Safety Corrections, and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD