Funeral Service for John Roberts Leith, Sr., 67, of Peever, South Dakota will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at the Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, South Dakota with Rev. Charles Chan, John Cloud III Senior Catechist, and Rev. Mike Owen officiating. Interment will be in the St. Mary's Episcopal Cemetery, Peever, SD. Pallbearers will be Richard and Robin Lawrence, Michael and Wayne Heminger, Bruce Many Lightnings, and Darwin Strong. Honorary Pallbearers will be Curtis and James Bird, Darrell Renville, Alton Flute, and Rev. Mike Owen, "And all of John's friends who passed before him". Pianist will be Kay Bursheim. There will be a wake on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Tribal Community Center with an all night wake on Monday, November 16, 2009 also at the Community Center. John Roberts Leith was born on September 11, 1942 at Granite Falls, MN to Harry Arthur and Lucinda Violet (Flute) Leith. John moved to Sisseton, SD and attended school graduating in 1961. John attended school in Chlokocco, OK for Dry Cleaning, returning to the Sisseton area and working for local farmers. In 1963 John went to Denver, CO and went to school for mechanical drafting and barbering. In 1964 he moved to Chicago, IL where he was employed at the Wells Company as a steel worker, and also worked at a factory stacking gaskets. He worked one season of construction for Sonny Armell then returned to Peever where he met and married Doris Lawrence on June 26, 1970. The couple moved to Denver, CO where John enrolled in the Ambassador School of Lithography and graduated in 1971. They returned to Sisseton where John worked for I.H.S. as a maintenance driver, he worked for the Pilot Project for the SD Elderly and delivered meals for the Sisseton Elderly. He then worked for Deutsch Construction, and the SWST operating heavy equipment. John built outhouses for the District and worked for Orville LaBatte operating a backhoe, digging basements and landscaping. John worked for the A.R.C. program and the Child Protection Program for many years until his retirement. John enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and watching his favorite programs on TV, and reading. John passed away on November 13, 2009 at his home.
John is survived by his wife Doris of Peever, SD, five children, John L. Leith, Jordan R. Leith, Landon B. Leith, Kendall M. Leith, and Jonna N. Leith all of Peever, SD, Three Sisters, Yvonne and Betty Leith and Diane Flute all of Minneapolis, MN, seven grandchildren, Richanda Hill, Damien and Dyami Many Lightnings all of Peever, SD and Rikki Lufkins, Justice, Hunter, and Allister Leith all of Hankinson, ND.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Germaine and Nadine.