Mass of Christian Burial for Ivan LeCompte, 94, of Whitehorse, will be held at 11 AM MST, Saturday, January 8, 2022, at the All Saints Catholic Church in Eagle Butte. Burial will be at the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. There will be a prayer service at 7 PM Friday at the church with visitation starting at 5 PM. Ivan passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021, at his daughter’s home in Aberdeen.
Born at home southwest of White Horse on December 28, 1926, to Casper and Virginia (LaPlante) LeCompte, Ivan was the fourth of ten brothers and two sisters. He and his siblings walked to school in White Horse. He often talked about the Blue Coat Sisters who took him under their wings and made sure he got to school and back home safely. He also attended school at Cheyenne Agency.
After he left school, he joined the United States Army and served in the Philippines, Japan, and Texas after World War II. He returned home to White Horse and engaged in the family ranching business until he could start his own ranch.
On May 28, 1951, he married Adele Garreau in Selby. Together they returned home and started their own ranch ten miles south of White Horse. In 1967, Ivan and Adele moved to Tucson, Arizona and then to Denver, Colorado for a brief time, before moving back home to White Horse.
Ivan drove the school bus for White Horse Day School until an accident digging post holes caused him to lose sight in one eye, forcing a medical retirement. He had many fond memories of the children riding the bus and stories of his time driving. He would retell these stories spontaneously and with vivid detail. He returned to full-time ranching with his sons until loss of sight prevented him from working. He continued to own his own cattle herd.
Ivan is survived by his children: Chuck (Sharon) LeCompte of Ridgeview, Susie (Jim) Shihady of Mesa, Ariz., Woody (Steve) Klein of Aberdeen, and Beth Ann (Jake) Johnson of Ridgeview; daughter-in-law Dixie LeCompte of Ridgeview; grandchildren: Brad, Cap, Clint, Chelsey and Calee LeCompte; KC Cheauma; Joe, Gregory and Jillian Klein; Raymond and Stephen LeCompte; Jennifer Bowman; Zeth and LaCee Johnson; Carolyn Frazier; Scottie Fischer; Ricki White Wolf; Jessie Ortega; Christian and Angel LeCompte; Tasha Starr; Priscilla Taylor; Crystal Mason. Ivan is also survived by 44 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ivan is preceded in death by his wife Adele; sons Marvin and Hank; daughters Eloise (Gig) and Barbara; parents Casper and Virginia; brothers Louie, Leo, Paul, Steve, Buster, Edward, Eugene, David and Morris; sisters Memoree and Vivian; grandchildren Rick, Ramona and Colt; and great-grandchildren Tyler, Tatum and Ricquel.
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