Funeral services for 64-year old Seth Arnold Blackbear Sr are Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the TNT Building in Wanblee, SD, with Pedro Sharp Fish, David Lays Bad, and Buzzy Yellow Hawk officiating.
Burial will be at the First Body of Christ Cemetery in Corn Creek, SD
A one-night wake service starts Friday, Jan 1, 2021 at 1:00 PM, also at the TNT Building in Wanblee
Seth A. Blackbear Sr “Ole Ahupi” was born on Jan 1, 1956 to Herbert and Faye (Leading Cloud) Blackbear in Rosebud, SD. Seth made his journey to the spirit world on Dec 23, 2020 at the Bennet County Hospital in Martin, SD.
Seth attended school at Norris, St. Francis, and Todd County and later attended Sinte Gleska University and Oglala Lakota College. He graduated from OLC Police Academy in 1983 and was an OST Police officer for 6 years in Manderson and Wanblee, SD.
For 10 years, Seth was a Home School Liaison at Crazy Horse School where he coached elementary and middle school boys’ and girls’ basketball with his teams winning several championships.
He was also a bus driver at Crazy Horse School, Little Wound School, Crow Creek Tribal Schools, Lower Brule Tribal Schools, and OST Head Start for 20 years.
Seth was a fluent Lakota Language speaker and a substitute teacher for Lakota Language at Crazy Horse School and Lower Brule College. He was in the process of earning his Lakota Language State Certification at OLC.
Seth was a devoted First Body of Christ minister and a talented singer and guitar player. His passion was teaching and working with children.
Seth was also involved with the American Indian Movement, and served as a set dresser for several movies including Thunder Heart, Lakota Woman, and Crazy Horse.
Seth was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Luke and Jenny Leading Cloud; father, Herbert Blackbear; sister, Carol Blackbear; brothers, Brian, Niobert and Pete Blackbear; nephews, Virgil, Robert ‘Buck’, Isreal, Jeremy, and Avery Blackbear; nieces, Iris Tobacco and Sylvia Black Spotted Horse; grandchild, Talana Yellow Boy; and great grandchildren, Marissa Lamont and Tre’Lin Red Elk.
Grateful to have shared in his life for 38 years is his spouse, Amelia (Janis) Blackbear. He is also survived by his mother, Faye (Leading Cloud) Blackbear of White River, SD; children Seth (Nicole) Blackbear Jr. of Wanblee, SD, Nikki (Jay) Jacobs of Porcupine, SD, Richard (Tiffany) Lamont of Kadoka, SD, Tina (Cyrus) Black Elk and Tracy Lamont, both of Wanblee, SD; sisters, Lyndall Looking Cloud, Gloria (Leonard) Leader Charge, Flora (Alvin) Bear Heels, and Zelda (John Sr.) Blackbear; sister-in-law, Sandra (Stanley) Young; brother-in-law, Stanley Wayne Janis; numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Pallbearers: Stanley Wayne Janis, Jeremy Janis Sr., Richard Conroy Sr., Jay Jacobs, Reuben Bettelyoun, Richard R. Lamont IV, Travis Janis, Brian Hart Sr., Eric Looking Cloud, and JD Witt.
Honorary Pallbearers: All First Body of Christ Church members, musicians, and ministers, Fast pitch teams NCCA, Manderson A’s, Rocky Ford Royals, Norris Reds, Wanblee Bandits, Independent basketball team the Bush Boys, his friends from Rosebud, Wanblee, Ft. Thompson, and Lower Brule and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD