GALEN DRAPEAU SR.

Galen Lee Drapeau Sr., 71, of Lake Andes died Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at his home in Lake Andes. Funeral services with military honors were at the Marty Indian School gymnasium in Marty Tuesday, October 13. Burial was in the Greenwood Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Greenwood. Peters Funeral Home, Wagner, was in charge of arrangements.

Galen Lee Drapeau was born November 9, 1948, in Wagner to Leo Drapeau and Florence Drapeau (Zephier), both from Greenwood. Galen was born and raised on the Yankton Sioux Reservation where he attended and graduated from St. Paul's Indian Mission at Marty (now known as Marty Indian School). After graduating, he did a short stint at an art school in Chicago before joining the US Marine Corp. He served from February 26, 1968, to February 25, 1972, with 13 months of active duty on the DMZ in Vietnam.

In 1969 after returning from Vietnam, Galen married Genelli Knudsen and they had seven children: Galen Jr, Glenn, Gina, Galena, Gary, Galicia and Gregory. In 1975, Galen moved his family from Minneapolis to the Ihanktonwan Reservation where Galen found his Dakota way of life. His passion was to learn his way of life and pass it on to the people. He volunteered as a teacher at Marty Indian School teaching both art and Dakota language.

His path then led him into a second union with Hope Ann Neis, in which he added six children to his life: Byron, Dallas, Grace, Glenford, Georgina and Garrett.

Eventually, Galen found his lasting home with Annette Mitchell, where the final two members of his family were born: Geoffrey and Gabrielle.

His passion was with sharing what he had learned and helping all peoples grow. His greatest pride and pleasure was enjoying the fruits of his labors by watching his children and grandchildren flourish in life and as human beings.

Galen was preceded in death by his parents Florence and Leo, his brothers, Chuck, Leo Jr., Casey, Glenford and Keith and his granddaughter Makenzee.

He is survived by his companion, Annette Mitchell, brother, Cephas Ashes, sisters: Ida Falcon, Flondine McWilliams and Irene Garue and 15 children: Galen (Paulita), Glenn (Frances Bullshoe), Gina Shields (Joseph), Galena Drapeau, Hehaka Akicita Elk Soldier (Wasagya Mani Win), Galicia (Gregg Frederick), Gregory, (Hector Tamayo), Byron Goldtooth, Dallas Goldtooth (Sonja), Grace Goldtooth, Glenford, Georgina (Devon Pretty Boy), Garrett, Geoffrey, and Gabrielle. He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a large hunka family.