September 15, 1963 – December 6, 2024
Michael L. DuBray, 61, of Eagle Butte, passed away Friday, December 6, 2024, at Monument Health, Rapid City.
Funeral services were held on December 13, 2024, at CRST Bingo Hall, Eagle Butte. Burial was at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis with military honors.
Michael Louis DuBray was born in Cleveland, OH on September 15, 1963, to Rita (White Bull) and Louis DuBray. He grew up on a ranch with his brothers and sisters, helping his dad and uncles raise cattle and buffalo. Some would say it was the cowboy way.
He attended primary school in Denver, CO then moved to South Dakota, where he attended Swiftbird and Promise Day School. He graduated from eighth grade at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte and graduated from high school at Crow Creek.
He attended Lake Area Tech for a year, then enlisted in the United States Army for two years. He was honorably discharged in 1993.
Michael worked various jobs: construction, cook, buffalo corporation, ranch hand, CRST Housing Authority, and IHS maintenance. Before his passing, he worked for the Veterans food pantry.
In 1997, Michael met Heather Ducheneaux and adopted her son Rylan Ducheneaux. They welcomed a son, Colin DuBray, in 1999 and a daughter, Devyn DuBray, in 2001. His greatest joy was being a dad and grandpa. Some of his last few words was to tell his kids how much he loved them.
Michael loved to laugh and joke around with anyone he encountered. He enjoyed cooking for family and friends, making sure everyone ate first. He loved to draw and sculpt, even winning first place at CRST Labor Day Lakota Artists Market. He was always outdoors, either building out of scratch, working on vehicles, or fishing. In his later days, he enjoyed watching cooking shows or watching his Steelers.
Michael is survived by his daughter Devyn DuBray, Eagle Butte; son Colin DuBray, Eagle Butte; stepson Rylan Ducheneaux, Eagle Butte; brothers Richard (Lynelle) DuBray, Swiftbird and Marcus White Bull, Arizona; sisters Wanda DuBray, Lodge Pole, MT and Jamie DuBray, Phoenix, AZ; ex-wife Heather (Baylon) Weston, Eagle Butte; special niece/daughter Wambli Wacinhin (Kallison) Ducheneaux, Rapid City; granddaughter Alexia Ducheneaux, Eagle Butte; and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephew, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents Rita White Bull and Louis DuBray; his favorite uncle Elroy DuBray; cousin Beau DuBray; nephews Brody DuBray and Ty Traversie; his hunka brother Dustin Scott; dear friend, Justin Laplante Sr.; along with many friends.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of the arrangements.