Douglas Dupree, Jr.
June 12, 1978 ~ October 17, 2014
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Douglas Dupree Jr., 36, of Rapid City and formerly of Eagle Butte, passed away Friday, October 17, 2014 at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. MDT, Monday, October 27, 2014 at the Dupree School Gym, Dupree, SD with Mother Margaret Watson officiating. Burial followed at the <> D <> Family Cemetery in Iron Lightning. Wake services were held at 7:00 p.m. MDT, Sunday, October 26, 2014 at the Dupree Multi Purpose Building, Dupree, SD with a procession from the 2 mile junction at 4:00 p.m.
Douglas Luther Dupree Jr. also affectionately known as “Baby Doug” or “BD” was born on June 12, 1978 at Eagle Butte Indian Health Service to Douglas & Eleanor (Bad Male) Dupree. His maternal grandparents were the late Moses and Helen Bad Male of Green Grass community. Paternal grandparents were the late Wilmer and Cordelia Dupris of the Iron Lightning community. During his early childhood days he lived in the Chinatown projects in Eagle Butte, SD prior to entering the Dupree School system where he attended all of his thirteen years as a proud Dupree “Tiger”. He then lived in the Iron Lightning community where his family owned and operated a family ranch.
Baby Doug was a very kind young lad who called everyone “sir” or “ma’am” and was the first to volunteer to assist in any task that required some muscle and he was never afraid of breakin ‘ a sweat. Baby Doug also had a calling to become one of the top ranch hands in the area and proved that he was capable of doing most ranch work. In school, Baby Doug was involved in various sports and excelled as a top athlete in all of Dupree Tiger school history. Baby Doug learned to refine his skills by spending many childhood years with his brothers Dustin and Daniel. Together the Dupree boys led the Tigers through years of success in sports and in the classroom. Baby Doug was an avid San Francisco “49er” football fan and wasn’t afraid to place a friendly wager for his team.
Rodeo was a part of Baby Doug’s life when he followed his father’s footstep as a rodeo competitor. He participated in Saddle Bronc, then later adding Bullriding as his two main events. He took a turn at team roping with his partner Jody Hunt. After high school, Baby Doug continued his rodeo ways by adding the Wild Horse Race with the infamous “Dupree Brothers” Team which included Little Brother Dan aka “Chinese Dan” and older brother Dustin.
Baby Doug also loved to play the sport of softball and his most recent team was “Kelley’s Crew” of Rapid City, playing all positions. He excelled as a powerful hitter. He spent his spare time dabbling in the dart throwing competitions in the area. As a teenager, Baby Doug was recruited to attend Huron College to play college football and later he participated in independent basketball tournaments.
Baby Doug was a smooth country & western slow dancer. He almost never failed to fill his dance card for the annual Iron Lightning “wasicu” dance at the Fourth of July celebration. While there, he teamed up with his Auntie Barb to defend their Lakota “Rabbit Dance” competition title.
Baby Doug married Kit Veit and to this marriage Tiauna Lane and Dillon Douglas Dupree were born. A young and energetic “takosa-grandchild” was born and he is known as Teegan Douglas Dupree, age one.
Baby Doug met Josephine “Josie” Jiron and was in a current relationship with Josie for many wonderful years up until the time of his passing. Josie stood by him through some of the most difficult times in life and shared many happy memories. Two children were born to this relationship: Bowe Sean and Dakota La Rae.
In the work field, Baby Doug started working for T & D’s Honeybees of Faith, at the young age of fourteen. He worked for the BIA Land Operations for four years and his most recent job was with the MainLine Contracting Inc. of Rapid City. Doug’s primary occupation was truck driving and he obtained a CDL with several endorsements. In between these employments Baby Doug worked on various ranches in the greater Dupree and Faith area.
Baby Doug moved his young family to Rapid City where he lived for the past several years. Baby Doug supported his children in their sports events and was a proud father when his eldest child Tiauna Lane was a member of the C-EB Lakota Nation Invitational Girls Basketball Champions, and when his older son Dillon played in the 2013 “State A” Boys Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls. Baby Doug was there supporting his youngest son Bowe Sean who participated in baseball as a starting pitcher and also a hard-hitting football player in Rapid City. Baby Doug continued to support his youngest daughter Dakota play in soccer and baseball. Baby Doug was also a loyal coach who volunteered his time to coach his daughter Tiauna’s team at the Queen City Basketball Tournament and Bowe Sean’s traveling basketball team.
It was also through the Episcopal Church Baptismal Rite that Baby Doug was a Godfather to the following: Shaylene Marie Jiron, MyKayla Rae Kelley, Jaceyn Josephine Starr, Raymond Hudson Clown and Allyn James Bear Stops.
Health wise, it was discovered that Baby Doug’s health was beginning to fail and more tests and examinations revealed a rare form of cancer known as sarcoma. It was so rare that his oncologist had never handled a case in the 30 years he practiced medicine. The noticeable loss of weight and inability to perform the most basic household chores indicated that Baby Doug was in for a long battle that would require surgery to remove a tumor from his heart and lung area. This included follow-up treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for chemotherapy and radiation. This experience provided the family and friends with hope of a complete recovery. However, that was not the case when the cancer re-appeared as a tumor in his brain that affected his mobility on his left side of his body. The brain surgery was deemed successful and he was moved to the Rapid City Regional Rehabilitation Wing. The treatment was going well until it was discovered that his breathing was becoming more labored and tests revealed that the cancer in his heart had returned. It was decided that Baby Doug be air-transported to Mayo Clinic for further tests to find a treatment plan to work towards saving Baby Doug’s life.
Word of Baby Doug’s fight with cancer reached many homes and touched the hearts of many who joined in on the “Fight on BD Dupree” prayer chain and with the touching donations received as a result of the “Do it For Doug” fundraisers. The family would like to thank everyone for the helping hand through prayers and financial support. When a cowboy’s in need, other cowboys saddle up and ride to assist to complete the chores left undone. The Lakota tiospaye played a big role in supporting the family’s needs. A “Do it For Doug” bank account has been established at the State Bank of Eagle Butte.
On October 17, 2014 at approximately 3:45 pm, with immediate family members at his bedside our beloved “Baby Doug” passed on to the afterlife. All the hearts that were touched by this great cowboy have been shattered and it will take a multitude of shared life-memories to work towards mending and healing the hurt and sorrow that is felt here today. He was 36 years old at the time of his passing.
Baby Doug is survived by his parents Douglas Sr. and Eleanor Dupree, Iron Lightning; love of his life Josephine Jiron, Rapid City; daughters: Tiauna Dupree, Eagle Butte and Dakota Dupree, Rapid City; sons: Dillon Dupree, Eagle Butte and Bowe Sean Dupree, Rapid City; special grandson, Teegan Douglas Dupree, Eagle Butte; brothers: Dustin (Robyn) Dupree of Dupree and Daniel (Tracey) Dupree, Eagle Butte; paternal nephews: Drake, Eagle Butte and Trenton Larrabee, St. George, Utah; paternal nieces: Summer, Makenzie and Chloe all of Dupree and Daesia, Dalis and Daelyn all of Eagle Butte; twenty-nine maternal nieces and nephews; eight grandchildren; paternal grandparents include: Edward Dupris, On the Trees District, Veronica Iron Lightning, Eagle Butte and Corrine High Elk, Eagle Butte; maternal aunts: Ruby Scheid, Milwaukee, WI and Grace Larrabee, Eagle Butte; paternal aunts: Barbara Dupris, Iron Lightning; Constance Clown and Carole (Tom) Knight both of Eagle Butte; paternal uncles: Kermit (Nancy) Dupris, Eagle Butte; Wilmer “Fred” Dupree, Ft. Yates, ND, and Dana Q. (Wynema) Dupris, Iron Lightning; paternal cousins: Casey Dupris and Calli Thompson; Bridget and Sonny Dupris; Philip, Keri Ann and Katie Dupris; Jayme, Memoree and Codi Dupris; Jenessa Kirk and Jessica Dupris: Holly, Sarah, Daniel, Duane, Quentin and Nelly Dupris, Dawn Brings Yellow, Robert and Rex Carolin; Jeffery, Lachelle, Calla Rae, and Chrissey Turning Heart and Raymond Clown; Joey, Nancy Ann and David Dupris, Lyn’dee Hill, Darin Tiger, CJ Miner; maternal cousins: Milo Scheid and Yuki Traversie, Dawn Bad Male.
Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with Douglas’s arrangements.
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As I reminisce about Doug, it takes me back to the school days at DHS. I remember Doug as such a kind, thoughtful, and caring person with always a smile on his face. I was proud to call him a friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you, his family and loved ones as you cope with grief and understanding of why? May your hearts be at piece and your minds be at rest someday, as I know you have an angel watching over you. God Bless you all…….
My heart goes out to the family of Doug. He was an amazing student and I was honored to be his teacher. He showed respect towards his teachers and classmates and was a great role model. Doug was also a kind-hearted person and did everything with a smile on his face. You all are in my thoughts and prayers!
Sending condolences and prayers for Doug Jr, his family, & all the Wakinyan Maza families
So very sorry for the loss of such a good man i pray Gods peace and love for you all. 2 corinthians 5:8 says to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord. I pray God rises from his glorious throne and welcomes doug home with loving arms. And i pray that your hearts wont be trouble and to always be assured we will all be with our loved ones with God once again.
Doug was such a wonderful guy to know. He played basketball with my husband at the YMCA in league. He was such a good player and teammate. We also ran into him, Josie, and family around the baseball fields watching our boys play. We would see him at LNI or basketball games for his daughter. He sure valued family and put them over everything else. His love for life and family will be remembered always. We’ll sure miss seeing him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Doug and family.
i had the pleasure of playing ball with doug for quite a while and he was a power hitting left handed batter who was devastating at the plate, he was a real friend, and a genuinley great guy, he was always happy to be at the ball field, i will miss him….
nephew baby Doug I will miss you but remember the TERO Times 🙂 and how radical I had to get ayyyy and love u n gbye.: ..(
nephew baby Doug I will miss you but remember the TERO Times 🙂 and how radical I had to get ayyyy and love u n gbye.: ..(
Josie and Doug’s entire family: I am so sorry to hear of Doug’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I am so glad I got the chance to meet and get to know Doug when I worked at Mainline Contracting. He always made my day when I got to see him. His friendship, smile, and positive attitude was so contagious. I will be keeping my "Do it for Doug" bracelet forever to remind me of him: a true fighter, friend, all around wonderful guy, and to never give up.
R.I.P.
I 1st met Doug in 2008 and what a kind feller. We played in the snow ball tourny & won it and a few other tournys. I herd of his passing by reading the native sun news paper & almost fell backwards cause I just seen him 3 weeks earlier at the gas pumps at dons valley mart. Their i asked him " How u doing bro"..he said o im doing good, juss a lil bit sick but ill get over it. He then said but im doing good how bout you? Little would I know that would be our last time speaking to each other…..Dougie was always a great ball player, Cowboy & a friend….rest in peace buddy….in time we will meet again…..My condolences go out to all of family….take care to all
Truly sorry to hear of your loss. Times like these are never easy but especially when they are so young. I hope the wonderful promise of seeing our loved ones again right here on earth, found at revelation 21:4, brings you some comfort and hope. Sincerely, Kathleen