Leroy Richards

Leroy ‘Show' Richards, age 86, passed away at his home March 17, 2017. Leroy was born on March 25, 1930, in Tuthill, SD, to Theodore Frank and Zona (Rooks) Richard. Leroy grew up in Tuthill, SD with his parents and siblings until the death of his father. His mother remarried and moved the family to Porcupine to live with her husband, Albert Pourier. Leroy and his brother, Leonard who was 2 years older went to Oglala Community High School. They lived at the school year-round. They hiked all over the country, hiding in box cars riding the train to Gordon for the fair. Once they had to jump off the train because the conductor found them. When Leroy was born, he was named after his father, Theodore Frank and when his mother later became ill his Aunt raised him and his brother. When she enrolled him in school they needed to change his name and she named him Leroy.

He entered the US Navy on April 23, 1948 when he was 17 years old to join his brother. While in the Navy he served during the Korean War and went on 2 world tours, going around the world and crossing the equator twice. The first time he was initiated they made him swallow a fish that was tied to a string and pulled it back out. He was honorably discharged in March of 1952. He then lived with his parents in Porcupine and went to work in Igloo.

He married Lena Standing Soldier in December of 1952. To this union 5 children were born. They were divorced in 1965.

In May of 1966 he met the love of his life, Josephine American Horse and they were married in February of 1971. To this union 2 children were born. In 1993, Show and Josephine adopted Keiloni Richard.

In 1966 he started working for BIA Roads as a heavy equipment operator. He retired in October of 1988. Show enjoyed going to the Prairie Wind Casino with his wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Alice and Tuffy Sierra.

Leroy is survived by his wife Josephine, daughters; RLou (Eldon) Stanton of Hot Springs, SD, Paula (Wayne) Kaufman of Colorado Springs, CO, Nadine (Neil) Linehan of Oglala, SD, Jodi (Ned) Johns of Gordon, NE, Keiloni (Lynn) Hruby of Gordon, NE and Winona (Fred) Afraid of Bear of Mansfield, SD, sons; Charles Richards of Hot Springs, SD, Leroy (Sherry) Richards Jr., of Waverly, IL, Gerald American Horse of Seagoville, TX and Donald Richards of Gordon, NE, 26 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren, step brother Ira Colhoff, cousins Joe Richards, Willard Richards, Mary Louise Mousseau, Art Lafferty, Wildene Zimiga, Eldean Mopher, Joann Pourier, Lavern ‘Chub' Wilcox, Fred ‘Sonny' Pourier and nephews Donnie Pourier and Jay Schreiner who passed away on the same day shortly after Leroy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Frank Richard, Emil A and Zona Pourier, a son, Reed Richards, brother Calvin Pourier, Lavern Richard, sisters Alfreda Amiotte, Ramona LaPointe, Anna Schreiner and nephews Charles Schreiner, Richard Schreiner, Wayne Pourier, Theodore Richards, niece Connie Richards and brother-in-law Burgess Bianas.
Leroy was the only uncle left and he took it upon himself to worry about the children of his siblings. His nephews; Kenny, Larry, Donald & Douglas Pourier, Mike & George Amiotte, Francis Jacobs, Nick Andrew, Anthony, Mark, Kelly, Art, Russell & Rick Richards and his nieces; Patty Conroy, Elmarie White, Frances K. Mastamas, Kathy Jacobs, Paulette Schreiner, Andrea Akers, Donna Richards, Jackie Gohring, Diane Ferguson and Karen McGowan.

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