Dewey Warrior Obituary
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Luce Funeral Home - Gettysburg on Jul. 30, 2025.
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View Dewey's Service Folder Dewey L. Bad Warrior, 75, entered the Spirit World on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte, SD. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. MDT, Friday, July 25, 2025, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bear Creek. A wake service will be 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the church with a procession from the 4-Mile at 4:00 p.m. Dewey was born on February 12, 1950, to Oscar Bad Warrior and Maethel Butcher. He was born at home in the Bear Creek Community. He joined two older brothers, Louie Butcher and Gary Bad Warrior. Three years later, he became a big brother to Christina, followed by Wanda, Steve, and Philomine. He spent his childhood years in Bear Creek under the watchful and loving eyes of Lala Sam Butcher and Unci Agnes Butcher. The family also spent holidays and other gatherings at his Aunt and Uncle Ethel and Raymond Uses The Knife in Thunder Butte. Dewey was a natural athlete. He excelled at sports. He began playing fast pitch baseball as a young boy. As a CEB Brave, he was an outstanding basketball player and had a buzzer-beater jump shot. He lettered in basketball and track. He played both fast-pitch and slow-pitch baseball and was a member of several traveling teams. He was recognized for his performance as a shortstop and later as a pitcher. He had a collection of MVP awards. He sponsored and coached teams and was especially proud of his nephews Milton, Myron, Willie, and Mike. As a dad, he coached his girls in basketball and baseball. There were too many softball tournaments that he recruited his daughter, Dayle, to fill as an outfielder so they didn't have to forfeit an early morning Sunday game. His softball family was a special part of his journey. After graduating from the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School in 1968, he and his cousin Richard Charging Eagle joined the US Marine Corps. During boot camp, he won awards for his shooting skills and athletic performance. Following boot camp, he was deployed to Vietnam. He was given the nickname "Chief" and walked as point guard for many jungle missions. Having served at the front lines, he came home a changed man, like many of his fellow Marine buddies. Later in his life, his exposure to the toxic chemical Agent Orange caused serious health issues for him. He was proud of his oldest daughter, Dayle's 24-year military service in the US Navy. In 1969, he married Sharon Justice. They were married by Reverend Gerald Yellow Hawk. Two of their children's weddings were officiated by Rev. Yellow Hawk. Together they had six wonderful children: Dayle Nicole, Dawn Lynn, Dugan Lee, Dew Marie, Sarah Mae, and Dewey Sonny. In 1983, his daughter Hayley Rose was born to him and Kathy LeBeau. She was his baby girl. Dewey's first job upon returning home was with the Head Start Program. From the war zone to a preschool classroom was, in many ways, a blessing. He spent many years with the Head Start Program. He accepted a job as the Tribal Work Experience Program (T.W.E.P.) Director. he traveled throughout the reservation communities, working with program participants. Through this job, he made many lifetime friendships. He loved his home community of Bear Creek and, for many years, served as the Chairman of the community's Pow Wow Committee. It was an annual event that offered a variety of activities for all ages. He had a daredevil spirit which came out when he chose to be a bull rider. He and his traveling partner, Any "Tubby" Mound, participated in rodeos. He spent a couple of years working in Sioux Falls, SD. Upon returning home, he was pulled back into the classroom. This time as a Lakota Language Teacher. He held this job for 20+years. Teaching the Lakota Language was a good fit for him, having been raised in a Lakota-speaking home. He was able to share the teaching of his grandfathers and grandmothers. Always the coach, he coached many C-EB championship hand game teams. He was especially proud of his team, which was comprised of his granddaughters, Maggie, Hannah, Martha, and Dayle. He was committed to promoting the preservation of our Lakota Language and stayed engaged in this effort after his retirement. In 1992, he met his life partner, Pat High Bear. They shared 33 years and celebrated many special milestones. She helped him through life's challenges. Together, they raised five grandchildren. Twins are a special blessing to Lakota families; he was a proud grandpa of four sets of twins: Cassie and Christina, Ophelia and Dorothy, Julius and Silas, and Diamond and Precious. In July 2020, he experienced the loss of his daughter, Dawn Lynn. This was devastating for him. She will forever be one of his Daddy's Girls. He was a proud dad and lala. Watching his takojas grow up and become accomplished young adults brought him joy. From the oldest, Cassie, to the youngest, Marie, he had athletes in basketball, rodeo, golf, and track, as well as musicians, scholars, artists, college graduates, and a pilot. This last year, he experienced serious health problems and became tired of the many hospitalizations and complications. At the end of his life, he was surrounded by the love and support of his family. Dewey is survived by his life partner, Pat High Bear; children: Dayle (Kris) Bad Warrior of Rapid City, Dugan Bad Warrior of Dupree, Dew Marie (Ben) Ganje. Rapid City, Sarah (Bud) Vrooman, Brookings, Dewey D. (Fallon) Bad Warrior, Timber Lake, Hayley Bad Warrior, Anchorage, AK; grandchildren: Cassie, Christina, Brad, Bree, Nicholas, Alyssa, Sam, Alex, Danielle, Maggie, Matty, Hannah, Martha, Dayle, Simone, Grace, Olivia, Benny, Sophie, Bella Bug, and Marie; great grandchildren: Bentley, Kian, Noah, Asher, and Chevy; brother: Steve (Tisha) Moran, Bear Creek; sisters: Judy Girton, Christine Moran, Wanda (Neil) Hahne, and Philomine (Mark) Moran, all of Eagle Butte. Dewey was preceded in death by his father, Oscar Bad Warrior; mother, Maethel Moran; daughter, Dawn Lynn; maternal grandparents: Sam Butcher, Mollie Nellie Clown Butcher, and Agnes Butcher; paternal grandparents: Eli and Susie Bad Warrior; brothers: Louie Butcher, Gary Bad Warrior; and sister: Toni Peterson. The family extends their sincere gratitude to each of you for your support and encouragement to Dewey and to them during this difficult time. Thank you for your prayers. Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Dewey's arrangements.