Funeral services for Leander L. "Lee" Gourneau, 83, of Lower Brule, SD will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lower Brule, SD with burial in the Holy Angels Catholic Cemetery at Presho, SD.  A rosary will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lower Brule, SD.

Anyone wishing to follow, the procession will leave from funeral home on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.

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Leander Linus Gourneau III was born on August 2, 1941 to Josephine Zaste and Leander Gourneau II in Belcourt, ND. He grew up in Belcourt with his 10 siblings until his late adolescence. After his Dad accepted a police officer job in Lower Brule, SD, the family moved to the area, where he attended Stephan Catholic School. He married his High School sweetheart, Kay Jandreau, on December 14th, 1959, and they began the legacy of their lives.

While living in Lower Brule he worked construction helping with ironwork on notable structures like the Big Bend Dam and the St. Louis Arch, where the family moved for a number of years. In the 70's he and his brother Steve created the Gourneau Brothers Construction Co. where they completed projects including work on the St. Joes campus. From that venture he founded the infamous Gourneau Bros. Softball team, formed of legends who had a winning first season with a record of 97-7, being champions of the Lyman and Chamberlain leagues and winners of various tournaments in South Dakota. Throughout that adventure many friendships and strong bonds were formed in and out of the community that last to this day.

He later went to work to manage the Lower Brule Employment Enterprise, proudly completing all of the work within the boundaries of the reservation on the Mni Wiconi Water project as well as building houses and shoreline reparation work. He was very proud of all of his employees and colleagues that worked alongside him. There was nothing he did not excel at, whether it was playing guitar, basketball, baseball, team roping, softball and golf to name a few.

Growing up he learned to hunt and trap with his Dad, and later enjoyed hunting & fishing with his sons, providing for many families in doing so. It's impossible to sum up all that he achieved in life but throughout his rodeo, sports and construction careers, he created many bonds that reached far and lasted a lifetime. Above all of his accomplishments and passions, first and foremost, Lee was proud of the love for Kay he had and the family that they created together. Lee was a family man, embodying the word patriarch, providing and beaming with pride for all of the people who came from their loving union. He and Kay worked together, side by side throughout life, creating a strong foundation for their family, rooted in hard work, kindness, genuine character and most importantly, an unwavering Faith in God.

Welcoming him Home on July 18, 2025 were his Wife Kay, Son Blaine, his Grandsons Austin and Jordan, siblings Irene Wright, Stella Gourneau, Sandra Bass, Joyce Hathman, Gladys Biskeborn, and Steve Gourneau.

Surviving him are siblings Francis Gourneau, Cora Hunsley, Bernice Lyngstad, and Terri Langdeau and his children Boyd & Mary Gourneau, Patti Gourneau, Kara Gourneau, Lori Gourneau, Jody Gourneau, and Lee & Ronnette Gourneau and his very special Grandson Trey Gourneau.