Nelson Barbosa

Nelson Barbosa, 70, of Eagle Butte, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at I.H.S. Hospital, Eagle Butte.

In compliance with the CRST Tribal Directives, a visitation began at 8:00 a.m., Thursday, September 10, 2020 at the CRST Powwow Grounds. At 1:00 p.m., a procession was head to the Green Grass Cemetery, Green Grass for services and burial.

On August 29^th, 1950, Nelson Eddie Barbosa was born in Dorado Puerto Rico to Pedro Barbosa and Blanca Sanchez. Most knew him as Barbosa or “The Pretty Puerto Rican”, as he liked to call himself.

Barbosa told stories of his youth and the beauties of Puerto Rico. How he strongly disliked the Catholic church and schools he attended. He told of how he would hide cut-off jean shorts and a tank top, folded in brown paper wrapped in twine, on top of palm trees or in the bushes. Before he got to school and when he was out of sight of his mother, he ditched school, changed out of his school uniform, and shoes. While walking barefoot, he’d go swimming in the ocean, climbing palms to crack coconuts, go fishing and collect softshell blue crabs, picking and eating fresh fruits off the trees, and sneaking into sugarcane fields to get sugar cane.

He talked to us about his father how he was a generous kind-hearted soul. How his father always helped somebody any way that he could. He also told us about how he would work for his dad, how he could build a house out of concrete and it would survive anything. He told of his father praying to the four directions with red cloth and tobacco when he was a small boy. And when he learned of our Lakota way of life, he knew he was where he wanted to be. Throughout the years Nelson took after his father by always being willing to help somebody, always willing to be there, to give food, to give anything he or his family had. He was very generous to a fault, putting the people before himself and his family. And he remained humble over all the years in this way of life.

He told about his mother’s cooking and all the other chefs he met throughout his journey on this earth. And he shared his love of cooking that he got from her with everyone he met. If you were hungry, he would feed you. If you were not hungry, he would feed you.

Barbosa loved visiting with everyone, going fishing, working for our youth, cooking, praying, singing Lakota prayer songs, and attending Lakota ceremonies.

Barbosa meant a lot to all of us.

He is survived by the love of his life, Verda “Bonnie” Bluecoat; children: Nelson Eddie Barbosa, James Barbosa, Michael Barbosa, Christopher Barbosa, Viodelca Barbosa, and Angeline Barbosa; siblings: Maria D. Barbosa, Maria T. Barbosa, Nilda I. Barbosa, Pedro J. Barbosa, and Sonia N. Barbosa; grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He will be joining his father Pedro Barbosa, his mother Blanca Sanchez, and his eldest daughter Maria Barbosa and the rest of our relatives in the spirit world.

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