November 21, 2001 – June 7, 2025
Thomas J. Three Legs Jr., 23, of Eagle Butte passed away Saturday, June 7, 2025, at On The Tree.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at C-EB Auditorium, Eagle Butte. Burial followed in St. Thomas Episcopal Cemetery at On The Tree.
Thomas “Tommy” James Three Legs Jr. was born November 21, 2001 in Pierre to Thomas Sr. and Reba Three Legs.
Tommy received his Lakota name, Peji Hota, from Lala Joe Milo Blue Coat. At the same time Tommy Hunka’d Papa Pierre Traversie as his dad. Tommy was a third generation Lake Side Singer, keeping the family drum active.
Tommy traveled with his parents to church meetings, where he became the youngest member of The Brother Hood of St. Andrews in Sisseton at the age of 10.
He traveled to many powwows growing up and had his own drum set up at the CRST Fair & Rodeo.
Tommy found his love for horses at a young age and began to ride with his brother Frank.
He attended school in Eagle Butte. Tommy played football and attended All Poly Camp Making a Difference in Utah, with late Coach Inukihaangana and his parents.
Tommy met his first love, Aalyah Standish, resulting in him leaving school. He later finished his GED on July 27, 2022.
Tommy met Aalyah’s family from Mandaree, ND. This is where he met Charlie Vigen, who owns the Awa Daa Hey Team. Tommy traveled to various places with the Indian Relay team throughout the US and Canada.
Tommy lived in Bismarck, ND while working at Doosan Bobcat Acceleration Center.
He decided to come home. He did a lot of mechanical work, working beside his dad.
Tommy helped at ranches with branding around Cheyenne River and North Dakota. He carried on the legacy of his late grandpa Archie Blue Coat working with his brothers during the CRST Labor Day Fair & Rodeo at the strip chute. He also helped at the Sullivan White Wolf Memorial Team Roping in Faith.
Tommy worked during COVID as Border Patrol in the Timber Lake area. He started working for CRST Solid Waste Program in 2020. He was also a volunteer fire fighter with the Eagle Butte Volunteer Fire Department for the past two years.
Tommy was always respectful with the biggest contagious smile.
He traveled to various dart tournaments. Tommy enjoyed singing with his uncles on the Lake Side drum and recently started singing with Wakinyan Maza.
He is survived by his parents, Thomas Sr. and Reba Three Legs; brothers Kyle Three Legs, Franklin Blue Coat, and Gage Jewett; sister Jo Blue Coat; grandmas Marge Clown, Alexina Evans, Arbana Thompson, and Elizabeth Bruguier; aunts Iva Traversie, Carrie Blue Coat, Carla Blue Coat, Faye Rousseau, Sylvia Picotte, and Pat Red Fox; uncles Bill Three Legs, Pete (Yvonne) Three Legs, Stoney Three Legs, Matt (Julia) Davila, and Richard Red Elk; and many cousins.
Thomas was preceded in death by his grandparents, James Three Legs and Lorraine Tiger, and Archie and Irene Blue Coat; hunka father Jim Picotte; aunts Amanda Blue Coat, and Harriet Blue Coat; uncles Clyde Walk in the Wind, Larry Three Legs, Little Jimmy Three Legs, Stan Three Legs, Webster Three Legs, Nephi Three Legs, Phillip Jr. Blue Coat, Ira Blue Coat, Lanny LaPlante, Orville LaPlante, and Pierre Traversie; and cousins Joshua Guerrero, Bennett Red Elk, Chauncey Red Elk, Richie Marrowbone, and Naomi Kasto.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of arrangements.