February 12, 1950 – July 18, 2025
Dewey L. Bad Warrior, 75, entered the Spirit World on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte.
Funeral services were held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte. Burial followed in St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bear Creek.
Dewey L. Bad Warrior was born on February 12, 1950 to Oscar Bad Warrior and Maethel Butcher. He was born at home in the Bear Creek Community. He joined two older brothers, Louie Butcher and Gary Bad Warrior. Three years later, he became a big brother to Christina, followed by Wanda, Steve, and Philomine.
He spent his childhood in Bear Creek under the watchful and loving eyes of Lala Sam Butcher and Unci Agnes Butcher. The family spent holidays and other gatherings with his Aunt Ethel and Uncle Raymond Uses The Knife in Thunder Butte.
Dewey was a natural athlete. He began playing fast pitch baseball as a young boy. As a Cheyenne-Eagle Butte Brave, he was an outstanding basketball player and had a buzzerbeater jump shot. He lettered in basketball and track. He played both fast-pitch and slow-pitch baseball and was a member of several traveling teams. He was recognized for his performance as a shortstop and later as a pitcher. He had a collection of MVP awards. He sponsored and coached teams and was especially proud of his nephews Milton, Myron, Willie, and Mike.
After graduating from the C-EB School in 1968, he joined the US Marine Corps. During boot camp, he won awards for his shooting skills and athletic performance. He was deployed to Vietnam and was given the nickname “Chief ” and walked as point guard for many jungle missions. Having served at the front lines, he came home a changed man.Later in his life, his exposure to the toxic chemical Agent Orange caused serious health issues for him.
In 1969, he married Sharon Justice. Together they had six children: Dayle Nicole, Dawn Lynn, Dugan Lee, Dew Marie, Sarah Mae, and Dewey Sonny. In 1983, his daughter Hayley Rose was born to him and Kathy LeBeau.
Dewey’s first job upon returning home was with the Head Start Program. Years later he accepted a job as the Tribal Work Experience Program (T.W.E.P.) Director. He traveled throughout the reservation communities, working with program participants.
He loved his home community of Bear Creek and, for many years, served as the chairman of the community’s pow wow committee.
He spent a couple of years working in Sioux Falls. Upon returning home, he was pulled back into the classroom, this time as a Lakota language teacher. He held this job for 20+years. Teaching the Lakota language was a good fit for him, having been raised in a Lakota-speaking home. He was able to share the teaching of his grandfathers and grandmothers. He coached many C-EB championship hand game teams. He was committed to promoting the preservation of the Lakota language and stayed engaged in this effort after his retirement.
In 1992, he met his life partner, Pat High Bear. They shared 33 years together. They raised five grandchildren.
In July 2020, he experienced the loss of his daughter, Dawn Lynn. This was devastating for him.
He was a proud dad and lala. Watching his takojas grow up and become accomplished young adults brought him joy.
This last year, he experienced serious health problems and became tired of the many hospitalizations and complications. At the end of his life, he was surrounded by the love and support of his family.
Dewey is survived by his life partner Pat High Bear; children: Dayle (Kris) Bad Warrior, Rapid City, Dugan Bad Warrior, Dupree, Dew Marie (Ben) Ganje, Rapid City, Sarah (Bud) Vrooman, Brookings, Dewey D. (Fallon) Bad Warrior, Timber Lake, and Hayley Bad Warrior, Anchorage, AK; grandchildren: Cassie, Christina, Brad, Bree, Nicholas, Alyssa, Sam, Alex, Danielle, Maggie, Matty, Hannah, Martha, Dayle, Simone, Grace, Olivia, Benny, Sophie, Bella Bug, and Marie; greatgrandchildren: Bentley, Kian, Noah, Asher, and Chevy; brother Steve (Tisha) Moran, Bear Creek; sisters Judy Girton, Christine Moran, Wanda (Neil) Hahne, and Philomine (Mark) Moran, all of Eagle Butte.
Dewey was preceded in death by his father Oscar Bad Warrior; mother Maethel Moran; daughter Dawn Lynn; maternal grandparents Sam Butcher, Mollie Nellie Clown Butcher, and Agnes Butcher; paternal grandparents Eli and Susie Bad Warrior; brothers Louie Butcher and Gary Bad Warrior; and sister Toni Peterson.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of arrangements.