Alfred Greaves

Alfred Greaves, 58, of Eagle Butte, passed away Friday, October 28, 2016 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Funeral services was held at 11:00 a.m., MDT, Saturday, November 5, 2016 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte with Mother Margaret Watson and Mother Mikayla Dunfee presiding. Burial followed at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cemetery, Cherry Creek. An all-night wake began at 7:00 p.m., Friday, November 4, 2016 at the church, with a procession from the 4-mile at 5:00 p.m.

Alfred Dean Greaves was born on April 4, 1958 at Old Agency CRST to Rachel Crow Feather and Leroy Greaves, Sr.

He was raised by Joseph and Mary (Has Horns) Bruguier in Timberlake and On the Tree Community, until their passing in 1971 and 1972. Alfred attended grade school and high school in Timberlake and Eagle Butte. Alfred attended the Baptist Church in Timberlake where he was the church choir soloist because he had a very good voice. This is where his career in the drum group started. His adopted father (Joseph Bruguier) was a drum keeper. He learned about the drum and how to speak Lakota fluently. For a short time, he danced but his real love was singing around the drum and going from pow-wow to pow-wow.

Alfred met Delores Ves and to this union they had three girls: Susan, MaryAnn, and Linda.

He attended Box Elder Job Corp in Nemo, SD. He moved to Utah with Rosetta and they had three children: Alrita Greaves, Alfred Greaves, Jr, and Tony Greaves.

He made his way back to Eagle Butte and met Blanche Bowker. Together they had three children: Amanda, Leo, and Umpo.

Alfred still sang at the drum with his health declining. He was a drum carrier taker at Tatanka Topa and also made rawhide earrings, box feathers, and flute carriers.

Survivors include all his children: Susan, MaryAnn, Linda, Alrita, Alfred, Jr, Tony, Amanda, Leo, and Umpo; and grandchildren: Orion Greaves, Robert Greaves, Susan Greaves, Michael Neiss Jr., Susie Greaves, April Greaves, Cleveland Neiss, Amanda Jr Neiss and Leroy Bowker.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters: Clarice Marshall, Mary Jane Pipe Stem, Barbra Marshall, John Marshall, Anthony Marshall, Artist Marie Marshall, Edward Charles Marshall; grandchild: Winterbird Wind Woman Neiss.

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with Alfred’s arrangements.