Richard Leasure, 60, of Wagner

Wake services will be held at the National Guard Armory in Wagner beginning at 8 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Funeral services are 10 AM, Friday, April 30, 2021 at the Armory. Burial is in the Cedar Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Wagner, with military honors. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner is in charge of arrangements.

Richard Dale Leasure was born August 08, 1960 to Burt and Adelia (Stricker) Leasure in Chamberlain, SD. He entered the Spirit World on April 26, 2021 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Richard graduated from Wagner Community School in 1979. As a young boy, Richard and his brother Ron worked at the Coast to Coast store in Wagner. Ed Honner was the owner and took the boys under his wing to teach them many things. Ed was seen as a father figure in their lives.

Richard held many positions within the Yankton Sioux Tribe; YST TERO Director, YST Environmental Director and YST Emergency Manager to name a few while also serving in many unpaid positions. He served as a consultant/advisor to many tribal programs due to his knowledge in many topics and fields.

Richard was in the National Guard for 21 years.

He is described as always helping where he could and going above and beyond for his people. There were many times he helped and only he and the individuals knew. The hours he worked, sick or not, can be seen as a tribute to the kind of man he was. He was one of a kind.

Dependable, hardworking and a sense of humor is who he was. He never wanted the spotlight but always wanting things done right!

Richard leaves behind his children: James (Audrey) Leasure of St. Peter, MN; Kim (Matt) Sadler of Elk Point, SD; Tonia (Brian) Smit of Ireton, IA; Mariah (Bryan) Vacha of Norfolk, NE; Megan Leasure of Norfolk, NE; Christopher Leasure of Springfield, SD and Bradley Leasure of Sioux Falls, SD; his brother Ronald (Crystal) Leasure of MN; his brothers Francis and Alden Stricker are deceased; his sisters: Gail Estes and Sandra Knudsen of Wagner; grandchildren: Molly, Sam, Sophie, Haley, Carter, Ellie, Sawyer, Sloane, Adeline and Maverick; nieces and nephews: Merry Picotte, Melissa Sanchez, Marcie Joseph, Andrew Estes III, Jolene Traversie, Kassandra Traversie, Thea Easley, Justin Leasure, Ryan Leasure, Andrea Panadere, Ruby Stricker, Francis Stricker Jr. and Adelia Stricker.

He was Grandpa Richard to many young ones from his nieces and nephews.

Richard also leaves behind numerous friendships over the years from his work places and his National Guard career.