Ira Blue Coat

Ira A. Blue Coat, 67, of Eagle Butte, passed away Friday, February 28, 2020 at I.H.S. Hospital, Eagle Butte.

Funeral Services were held at 1:00 p.m. MST, Saturday, March 7, 2020 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial followed at St. Thomas Cemetery, On The Tree, SD. A wake service was held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 6, 2020 at the church, with a procession from the 4-mile corner east of town at 4:00 p.m.

Ira A. Blue Coat was born on April 9, 1952 to Robert Archie and Irene (Hawk Eagle) Blue Coat at Old Cheyenne Agency. On February 28, 2020 at Eagle Butte I.H.S., Ira started his journey to meet all our relatives that have gone before us.  

In Ira’s early years he lived in Green Grass with his parents along with siblings Phillip, Amanda, Carrie, Carla, Iva, Reba, Harriet along with their cousin/brother Richard. He would share stories and said it was always an adventure. Ira talked fondly of the times he spent with Unci Nellie and Lala Tom Hawk Eagle at Inktapa, northwest of Green Grass. He often shared what he learned from Unci and Lala. 

Ira attended school at CEB until High School and eventually attended Kicking Horse Job Corp in Ronan, Montana. He attended the same job corp twice. Obtaining certificates in Truck Driving and Heavy Equipment Operator. He also received a certificate to be an instructor or work leader, so he taught many others about heavy equipment. When he returned home from job corp he started working with different contractors, he drove semi’s going all over the country and seeing other states. He eventually started his own company, Blue Coat Enterprise.  

Ira later started working for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in different programs, such as Law Enforcement as a Police Officer, Headstart Bus Driver, and Property and Supply as the Head Custodian. In a way, he was a jack of all trades.  

On June 2, 1985 Ira became a dad to Neil C. Ira raised his son and Neil was always by his side. Ira started the Red Elk Drum Group which consisted of all cousins. The drum group attended many powwows and there was always an adventurous story to where they went. Today they still share these stories and are always teasing. Laughter and teasing are what Ira will always be remembered for. Ira had nicknames for his guy cousins and close friends.  

Ira was Sargent at Arms for the CRST Tribal Council for four years. He was very active in local tribal affairs as he worried about the future of his grandchildren. He served on several boards for many years including the Cultural Center Board and the CRST Hiring Board.  

Ira wanted to do more with his life, so he signed up for college, going into the Cook Christian Training School in Tempe, AZ and received a diploma in Sociology. He then went on to Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, Massachusetts. His school ended due to health issues and he eventually came home to start dialysis; at which time he began his sobriety.  

In 2005 Ira met the love of his life, Jennifer “Jenn” Hoffman and she came back to Cheyenne River with him. On August 21, 2010 they officially tied the knot at St. Thomas, On the Tree, South Dakota. Together they started their family with the grandchildren, Mei’Lani Ana Elese Rose, Kameron Paul, Collins J’Leona and Amanda Neriah. The grandchildren gained an uncle and Neil gained a little brother when Gavin John Wilder Blue Coat came into their lives at the age of six months. Gavin was later officially adopted. 

Ira was always proud that he was Lakota and a descendent of Crazy Horse. Ira shared his knowledge of the Lakota ways and he often referred to himself as Maca.  

Ira is survived by his beloved wife Jennifer; sons Neil and Gavin; grandchildren: Mei’Lani, Kameron, Collins, Amanda, Violet and Acen; brothers: Phillip (JR) Blue Coat of On the Tree, Richard Red Elk, Eagle Butte and Oriville (Barb) LaPlante of Eagle Butte; sisters: Faye Rousseau of White Horse, Carrie and Carla Blue Coat of Eagle Butte, Iva (Pierre) Traversie of Eagle Butte and Reba (Tom) Three Legs of On The Tree; aunts: Marge Clown and Rose Bad Hand of Eagle Butte; along with many other relatives, cousins, nephews, nieces and grandchildren. 

Ira is preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Irene Blue Coat; grandparents: Thomas and Nellie Hawk Eagle, Robert and Lillian Blue Coat; brother, Lanny LaPlante; sisters, Amanda and Harriet; nephews: Joshua Guerrero, Daniel LaPlante, Warren Swan and Sheldon Hawk Eagle; and niece, Robin Bad Male. 

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