Morgan S. Garreau

Morgan Samuel “Sam” Garreau, age 78, began his journey to the Spirit World on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. MST, Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Episcopal Cemetery, LaPlant. A wake service will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the church with a procession from the 4-Mile at 4:00 p.m.

Sam, as he was commonly called, was born to Melvin Garreaux, Sr. and Melda High Bear Garreaux on October 29, 1947. Sam was proud of his ancestry, being a direct and lineal descendant of Chiefs Black Buffalo, One Horn, High Bear, Gall, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse, as his mother Rattling Blanket Woman was a sister to One Horn. Sam exemplified the characteristics of a humble leader throughout his life.

Sam attended and graduated from Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School where he resided in the dorms. He was active in all sports and was proud of setting a track record that went unbeaten for many years, he also served as Prom King. During high school summers, he attended Upward Bound at The University of South Dakota along with students from Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations. After high school, he attended college at Northern State University. He returned home to Cheyenne River and took his first job at Naeve’s Store. On the weekends, he helped his father at the ranch.

He was later employed with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in the Public Service Careers program. He left Cheyenne River to take employment in Aberdeen, SD, as the Executive Director of the Tribal Chairman’s Health Board. He returned home to serve as Administrative Officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in the Melvin Garreaux, Sr. administration.

He began his political career as a tribal council representative for District 5 and was later elected by the Oyate to the position of Tribal Chairman. Sam was a forward thinker and through his leadership and vision, the airport became a reality, and the Super 8 Motel was built. After his time as chairman came to an end, he returned to his home in rural LaPlant. He would later return to serve the Oyate as a school board member for the Tiospaye Topa School, director of the Tribal Business Information Center, and Executive Director of the Cheyenne River Housing Authority, from which he retired.

Sam was united in marriage with Odette Four Bear. LeeAnne, Joseph, and Louis joined this union and became a family. Many wonderful memories were made during this time in the country with cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. From this union of marriage, Sam also gained another huge family whom he always stayed close to, the Four Bear Family.

Sam was a role model for his siblings, always remembering birthdays and anniversaries and fulfilling his role as the big brother in the family. He was always there to listen and guide his siblings, children, and grandchildren.

A favorite memory when he was Tribal Chairman and traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with congressional representatives, staff, and the President of the American Indian National Bank. Sam told the bank president that Cheyenne River wanted to establish relations with the bank, set up accounts, and make loans to purchase arms with which to raise an army and declare war on the United States government. The bank president looked at Sam with an astonished wide-eyed look. Sam laughed and the bank president breathed a sigh of relief. Sam could come across as a serious guy when talking but one could always know when Sam was pulling a fast one because he would get this twinkle in his eye.

In October 2024, Sam was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer, and was hospitalized in Sioux Falls and Pierre. He underwent a number of blood transfusions and weekly injections of medicine as a treatment plan. He appreciated the many healing prayers sent to the Creator on his behalf.

Grateful for having shared his life are daughter, LeeAnne Knight; son, Louis Pierre Garreau; mother, Melda Garreau; aunts: Shirley (Jay) Christenson, Lola Blue Earth, Melynda High Bear, Barbara High Bear, Lynn High Bear; sisters: Francine (Bob) Hall, Jacqueline Garreaux; brothers: Jeffrey (Karen) Garreau, Steven Garreau; hunka brother, Harold E. Condon; nephews: Kyle and Scott Louis, Cody Garreau, Peter Hall, Dominic Garreau, Bryan Garreau, Melvin Juncy, Martin, and Warrant Garreau, and Joseph Elsey; nieces: Melani Garreau, Hillary Garreau, Alscessa Elsey; grandchildren: Jasmine Louis, Eryn Louis, Xavier Louis, Henry and Felix Hall, Amanda Knight, Jace Knight, Terrance Knight, Phoenix and John Schlecht and Hunter Moran, Justinlynn Garreau; great-grandchildren: Kingsten, Kobe and Thomas Knight, Henley Brown, Elora Knight, A’hanni Schlect, Luca and Luna Moran, Joseph Knight, Kellan Louis; and numerous other cousins, relatives, and friends.

Preceding Sam in death was his wife, Odette Four Bear Garreau; son, Joseph Paul Garreau; father, Melvin Garreaux, Sr.; sister, Rita Kym Louis; brother, Melvin Garreaux, Jr.; nephew, Jeffrey Garreau, Jr.,; maternal grandmother, Louise Green; maternal grandfather, Paul High Bear; paternal grandmother, Amelia Laundreaux; paternal grandfather, Gilbert Garreau Sr.; mother-in-law, Hazel Four Bear; and numerous other relatives.

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