Darryl LeClaire

Darryl J. LeClaire, 55, of Cherry Creek, passed away Monday, May 7, 2018 at his home in Cherry Creek.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. MDT, Monday, May 14, 2018 at Zintkala Hall, Cherry Creek, with Father Dan Juelfs presiding. Burial followed in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Cherry Creek.

Darryl Jay “Bo Jay” LeClaire was born January 3, 1963 to LeRoy and Victoria LaClaire on a wintery day. He was breech and Victoria was driven by ambulance to Mobridge. She believed he turned due to the curves in the road while in the ambulance. He was born upon their arrival in Mobridge.

Darryl was doted on by his dad, staying by his side nearly every day. One would often see Darryl standing in the vehicle by LeRoy as he drove away and returned home. (Safety seats weren’t required in those days). Darryl was spoiled and everyone envied his toys brought home to him by his dad. He had Johnny West and his horse with all of the gear, BB guns, toy guns with holsters, comic books, and Star Wars figures galore.

Darryl attended school at Cherry Creek Day School, St. Joseph’s Indian School, and Cheyenne Eagle Butte High School, graduating in 1982. He worked as a Community Health Representative, a court process server, and as a janitor for the Takini School. In his spare time, Darryl enjoyed cooking for his brothers and spoiling them. He loved his siblings and let them know in many ways. He had a loving heart; using it so much that it needed a battery to help it beat. He loved his nieces and nephews and used nicknames for them: Princess Meekeeghoo (Kim), Trans Am Girl (Raina), and Chucky (Rianne) to name a few. He loved to tell jokes about himself to make us laugh, although situations seemed to be serious.

Darryl missed his parents greatly. He would have long conversations on the telephone keeping in touch with his sisters, asking how they were doing and talking about his daily life, hunting adventures, fishing adventures, and work. He told about one time casting his pole and catching the hook on his brother’s cap and throwing it into the water.

Darryl passed in his sleep, the best way to go. The family can imagine that he is with Dad and Mom; catching up on what is going on here in this life and meeting our relatives who he has not met before and those who we’ve known and have gone before us. He will suffer no more and has gone to his rest. All will miss their brother, uncle, nephew, and grandpa who they loved dearly. Until we meet again.

Darryl is survived by many relatives: Anita (Rhae) Washburn Family, Deloria Straight Head Family, Carla (Leon) Veaux Family, Daren (Germaine) LaClaire Family, Dana (April) LaClaire Family, Josephine (J.D.) LaClaire Family; aunties and uncles: Bernard (Eldora) LeClaire Family, Vincent (Alta) LeClaire Family, Annabelle LeClaire Family, Eddie LeClaire, Gordon “Shorty” Condon Family, Michael Condon Sr., Karen Condon Family, Bernice Condon Family, and June Condon Family.

Those who passed on before him: Lala Vincent H. and Unci Margaret LeClaire; Lala Pat and Unci Catherine Condon; Lala Francis and Unci Louise Straight Head; parents, LeRoy and Victoria LaClaire; Tyler LaClaire, Tyson Beau LaClaire, LeRoy Vince LaClaire, Tyson J. LaClaire, Elisha Z. Veaux, Elijah T. Veaux, J’Lee Shaden, Melvin LeClaire, Millard and Rosalie Dupris, Reuben and Doris Ward, Danny and Angeline Afriad of Hawk, Francis “Tuffy” and LaVerne Straight Head, Marilyn Running Horse, Bobby Ward, Maynard Dupris, and many other relatives. Never forget them.

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