Maida LeBeau

Maida Joyce LeBeau, Wičháȟpi Ȟtayétu Wiŋ (Evening Star Woman), 86, formerly of Eagle Butte, SD, passed away Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Monument Health in Rapid City, SD, surrounded by her beloved family.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., MST, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m., at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis. Reception following burial at Angel’s Catering and Receptions at Summerset, SD.

On September 30, 1935, Maida was born at home to James White Feather and Louise Fisherman-Jones in Cherry Creek, SD. Like many of her generation, she developed tuberculosis at age six and was admitted to the Sioux San Sanitorium in Rapid City, SD. Maida resided there until she was discharged in her early teens. Upon her release from Sioux San, she lived with her grandmother, Sophie Fisherman, in Cherry Creek, SD. Maida finished the rest of her schooling at the Cheyenne River Boarding School. Following high school, Maida went to Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas, for pre-nursing. After returning to South Dakota, she was blessed with a daughter, Jerilyn. In mid-1960, she moved to Chicago, IL, where she attended cosmetology school; she lived in Dupree upon her return.

She met the love of her life, Wesley LeBeau, at the Cheyenne River Boarding School. Although they knew each other during that time, it wasn't until after they graduated that they became re-acquainted. Wesley played in a band called The Castaway's, who played at various venues in the area. It was during this time they began courting. They fell in love, were married on January 19, 1968, and were blessed with three more daughters: LaDonna, Doriann, and LeNae.

They made their life together in South Dakota. Their education, work, and volunteer activities spanned from Dupree to Blackfoot, Newell, Rosebud, Springfield, Mobridge, Eagle Butte to Rapid City. Most of Maida's work was rooted in education. Her early career began working as an assistant for an educational program, Operation Mainstream, and as a teacher's aide in Dupree. She worked for Head Start in Springfield and at the St. Martin's Academy Catholic School Emporium (to assist with their daughter's school tuition) in Rapid City. In Eagle Butte, she worked at the school cafeteria in later years. She and Wesley lived most of their lives in Eagle Butte, where Maida was predominately a stay-at-home mom to care full time for her children, whom she cherished. She was adamant about higher education for her children and grandchildren and was extremely proud of their accomplishments.

Maida always held a deep love for her Oyate and the Tribe. She was passionate about advocacy and was actively involved in attending council sessions and providing wisdom and insight. Maida was committed to caring and helping as many people as she could throughout the years that they lived on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. 

Following Wesley's retirement, they both moved to Rapid City, SD, where they resided with their daughters until the time of her death.

Maida is survived by her loving and devoted husband Wesley LeBeau of Rapid City, SD, four daughters, Jerilyn (Brent) Church of Rapid City, SD, LaDonna (Charles) LeBeau-Stephens of Colorado Springs, CO, Doriann LeBeau of Rapid City, SD, and LeNae LeBeau of Rapid City, SD; Step-daughter, Vivian Schaeffer of North Apollo, PA; Grandchildren Cy Church, Trevor Church, Dorilynne Collins, Courtney Collins, Korea Collins, Daniel Stephens, Dillon Stephens, Henry LeBeau, Liliana LeBeau, Mylie LeBeau, Machpiya Umpo Wi Bowker (hunka granddaughter), Melda and Melvin Garreaux (hunka sister and brother) in addition to living members of the Fisherman/Takes the Knife, Little Wounded, Frazier, Vance, and the LeBeau, Ducheneaux, and Hertz Tiospayes.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James White Feather, Stepfather Seymour Jones and Louise Fisherman (Jones), Grandmother Sophie Fisherman, two sisters Flora Little Wounded, and Ernestine Frazier, brothers baby Thurman White Feather, Burleigh White Feather, Duane White Feather, Melvin White Feather, and Jerry White Feather, and nephews Thurman Little Wounded and Darrel Dean Vance.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Maida’s arrangements.