Jason Garreau

Jason Garreau, 39, of Eagle Butte, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Sioux Falls. 

A celebration of life will be 11:00 a.m. MDT, Saturday, May 24, 2025, at CEB Auditorium, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in the Eagle Butte Cemetery, Eagle Butte. A wake will be 6:00 p.m., Friday, May 23, 2025, at the auditorium with a procession from the 4-Mile at 4:00 p.m. 

Jason Todd Garreau was born May 7, 1986, to his Mom, Tracy Garreau, in Aberdeen, SD.  The first four years of his life were a big indicator of how he would live his life, the first broken bone, first burn, always taking off and testing his Momma.  The family moved to Eagle Butte, SD in 1990, -The Rez- where he had too much space to roam.  He lived most of his early years in Eagle Butte until he turned 18 and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.  During his time in Utah his children, Boston Jaye and Jaiden Raye, were born.  He returned to Eagle Butte where his children, Jalen Owen and Jason Todd Jr. were born.  Also, during this time his daughter, Angela Grace Starr, was born and grew up in Sioux Falls.  

Jason moved home from Utah in 2006 and started working for Loren Ganje.  They formed a great and lasting friendship.  At the end of that year, he began working in the meat department at Lakota Thrifty Mart, and true to his light-hearted humor he immediately began calling himself the “Meat Man”.  He loved that job, and the customers loved him as well.  He earned employee of the month, deservedly so, several times throughout the six years he worked there.  

He loved his boys to no end.  He was the best dad to them.  Over the past two years he was able to get to know his daughter and bond with her.   He also was able to get to know his paternal side and formed a lasting bond with them due to his charm and big heart.  They loved him very much and were grateful for the memories made.   

Growing up Jason attended EB Head Start and Cheyenne Eagle Butte Schools and Dupree School for one year.  He proudly received his GED in 2018 at SDSP and went on to become a tutor to other inmates.  

Jason was always a rambunctious soul (to put it mildly), also charismatic, charming, loyal, friendly, good-hearted, respectful and oh so handsome.  All these qualities combined made him quite the ladies’ man, and to know him was to love him; that’s for sure.  Oh, the stories we could tell and so many more we’ve heard in the past few days.  He lived life to the fullest in his short time with us and stressed his momma out to no end…to the end!!! Once you got to know him, he was your friend for life.   He had a way of making each and every person he came in contact with feel special.  He had several names over the years:  Jason, Jason Todd, JT, Larson, Little Larson, Big Lars Dawg, J. T. Money, Uncle Tar Tar, Dad, Boss, Son, Nephew, Grandson, Uncle, Cousin… but his favorite that he called himself was TROUBLE.    

Jason spent the last 11 years of his life in prison, but he never let that stop him from being the person who encouraged and brought others up and helped them out in any way that he could.  He was a “brother” to so many on the inside.  We have heard stories about how he looked out for them and kept them in good spirits when they were down.  Another way Jason helped his “brothers” was by sending home beautiful beadwork to sell for them.  Many people from our community purchased them over the years. He enjoyed doing this and always wanted pictures back of those that bought from him.   

Jason left the world on May 15, 2025, and left many broken hearts. But we will always remember his smile, his laugh and how much he meant to each and every one of us. “If love could have saved him, he would have lived forever”.

Jason is survived by his children: Boston, Jaiden and Mom Phillisha, Jalen, Jason Jr. and Mom Becca, daughter Angela and her family; his maternal family:  Momma Tracy; brothers: Allen “Bubba” Garreau and Jeffrey Dunn (Ali); sisters: Monica Broner (Paul) and Tana Charging Eagle (Tyson); step-brothers: Nakai and Jerrod Charging Eagle; uncles: Faye “Chug” Garreau (Karen) and Sydney Garreau (Lacey); aunts: Delphine Garreau and Martha Garreau; and grandmother, Mary Jo Garreau; paternal family:  Dad and Step-Mom Kent and Tiffany Larson; sisters: Brandee, Randee, Lacey, Lindsey, Ashlee and Colbee and their families; aunt, Kristen, her son, Kane; and grandfather, Richard Larson, affectionately known as “Papa Dick”; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews that he loved so very much, and they loved him.

Jason was preceded in death by his aunts: Kelly Jean, Romey Jo and Jeri Jewel; and grandpa, Romey.

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