Darlene LaBlanc

Darlene LaBlanc, 76, of On The Tree, journeyed to the spirit world, Thursday, October 11, 2012 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 18, 2012 at the HVJ Cultural Center, Eagle Butte with Rev. Norman Blue Coat and Leroy Bobtail Bear officiating. Burial followed at On The Tree Cemetery. An all night wake began at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at HVJ Cultural Center, Eagle Butte. 

Darlene LaVina LaBlanc entered the world on May 25, 1936 at the Old Agency Hospital. She was the daughter of Edward LaBlanc and Juanita (Useful Heart) LaBlanc. She attended boarding school and then helped her two grandfathers while they were up in age. She helped raise two nephews: Tony and Albert Holy Bear and then had two boys of her own, Joe and Brian Tiona.

Darlene married Matthew Bear Eagle and to this union they were blessed with Lena, Cylinda, Robert, and Matthew Jr. She was a good provider to the family receiving her GED and working various jobs cleaning homes, baking and taking care of the elderly and sick. She then worked at the elderly manor, meeting and bringing home many elderly at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Following this she worked with State and BIA Social Services, next bringing home kids that needed a family.

Darlene was baptized into the Episcopal Church at On The Tree and had a very strong belief in her spirituality with the Lakota way of life. She spent time going to sweats, ceremonies and also participating in the sun dances, meeting people from all over and becoming mom, grandma and auntie to many. She would welcome anyone into her home that needed a good ear and a hug.

A year ago Darlene was put on dialysis and was hoping to get a kidney soon from Tony. While testing for this kidney transplant they found she had colon cancer, which she then had surgery to remove the tumor and continued on with chemo to make sure all the cancer was removed. Throughout this ordeal she was very strong, taking her sickness as a learning experience. Despite all her health challenges, she remained positive and continued to make her own decisions.

Darlene called her family daily and they will all miss hearing her voice. She will be missed dearly by her oldest daughter and son in law, Lena and Terry and their grandchildren and great grandchildren; also Cylinda, and her granddaughter and great granddaughter.

Darlene is survived by her children: Lena (Terry) Flying By of Eagle Butte and Cylinda Bear Eagle of Eagle Butte; daughter-in-law: Rosemary Bear Eagle of Bismarck, ND; grandchildren; Randall, Earl (Mona) Jr., Robert (Dawn), Nellie (Mike), Joseph, Tyson, Echo, Wylie, Tyler and Nevaeh; great grandchildren: Kaden, Ashlee, Sadie, Trishdyn, Isis, Jillian, Jaelyn, Savannah, Sonique, Sebrieene, Angel, Dakotah, Brian and Lydia; sisters: Emmaline Rock, Lillian Brown, Threasa LaBlanc and Charlotte LaBlanc; brothers: Oliver LaBlanc and Melvin LaBlanc and many other Hunka Brothers, Roderick Isna; her godchildren: Gerald “Sonny” Dupris, Michelle Dupris and Leslie White Dog; and many Hunka Family members: sons: Avery Thompson, Robert Rattling Chase, Howard Wilkinson, Amiel Little Light, and Lindsay Bad Bear; daughters: Shirley Dog Eagle, Thomasin Begay, Colleen Thompson, Tara LaPlante and Skip Picotte and many grandchildren, great grandchildren. She loved you all!

Preceding her in death were her parents; numerous brothers and sisters; sons: Joseph Tiona, Brian Dale Tiona, Robert and Matthew Bear Eagle, Jr.; and companion, Matthew Bear Eagle, Sr.

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with Darlene's arrangements.