Funeral Service for Leonard A. Hayes Jr., 68, Watertown, South Dakota will be held on Monday June 21, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, South Dakota with Rev. Enright BigHorn and Milton Owen officiating. Pianist will be Billy Kohl with Special Music by Joe & Kathy White, Butch Felix, Big Coulee Choir, and Levi Keoke. Pallbearers will be Josh Kohl. Mandell Yankton, David Martin, Adam HighEagle, Isaiah Hayes and Raymond Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Louis & Moses Quinn, Smiley Shepherd, Jason & Ron Kalsbeck, Clayton Redwing, Jim Strutz Sr., John Cloud III, Mike and Rex Owen, Norbert Bellonger, Morris Spider, Milton Owen, Orville LaBatte, John Feather and all of Leonard's Family and Friends. Interment will be in the Ascension Presbyterian Cemetery, Peever, SD. Wake Services will be Saturday, June 19th and Sunday June 20th starting at 7:00 P.M. at the Tribal Community Center. Leonard Alphonse Hayes Jr. was born on June 7, l942 at Sisseton, SD to Leonard P. and Clarice (DeCoteau) Hayes Sr. He grew up and attended school at the Wahpeton Indian School, Wahpeton, ND. After his education he served in the Navy from August 11, 1960 to December 5, l963. After discharge from the military he attended school in Dallas, Texas for welding. After his education Leonard worked in Vermillion, SD as a welder. He also worked for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate for Tribal Realty. He then married Avina BlueCloud-Hill on October 16, 1986 in Big Coulee, SD. He then worked for Dakota Sioux Casino as a porter. In 1998 he started studying for ministerial work. He liked to work on cars, liked carpentry, singing and playing guitar, fishing, beading, leatherwork and spending time with family and friends. Leonard passed away at his home under Hospice care on June 17, 20l0 after a lengthy illness with his family at this side.
He is survived by his wife, Avina of Watertown, SD; Ten children Ernie Rendon of Beardsley, MN, Lynette Hayes of Watertown, SD, Lorleen Martin of Watertown, SD, Lenny Hayes of Minneapolis, MN, Brian Ellis BlueCloud of Chicago, ILL. , Raymond Jones of Flandreau, SD, Howard Redday III of Flandreau, SD, Bernie Kohl of Peever, SD, Rhonda Redday of Watertown, SD, and Missy Kohl of Peever, SD. They also raised two grandchildren Whitney Jones of Watertown, SD and Cynthia DeMarrias of San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico; two sisters, Colleen DeCoteau of Sioux Falls, SD and Thelma Feather of Omaha, NE., one Brother Thomas DeCoteau of Aberdeen, SD and 30 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Karen, four brothers Randolph, Richard, Donald and Kenny and one infant sibling.