John Leroy Four Bear, 74, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the State Vet's Home in Hot Springs, South Dakota.

John was born on August 23, 1948, in Wakpala, SD to Armstrong and Elizabeth (Red Hawk) Four Bear. He grew up and attended school in Wakpala graduating from Wakpala Public School in 1966. John joined the United States Army in January 1968 and was honorably discharged in January 1970.

After his time in the service John returned to Wakpala. He took on the task of becoming a Lay Reader for the Episcopal Church and this adventure took him all across the United States. John welcomed his daughter, Cheri in 1989. In 2005 John moved to Mobridge, SD. He enjoyed visiting his sister, Gladys, fishing, and getting a breakfast sandwich and visiting with others at the Mobridge Burger King.

John was a private but loving man that will be greatly missed by those that knew him.

Grateful for having shared his life are his daughter, Cheri Four Bear (James Rugg); granddaughters, Alia and Alyce; nieces and nephews, Jolene (Hawk) Sanders, Lola (Hawk) Blaine and her husband, Silas Blaine, Warren Hawk, Daniel Hawk, and Andra (Hawk) Valdez, and her husband, Rob Valdez; and numerous other grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Armstrong and Elizabeth Four Bear; brothers, Joseph Paul Four Bear Sr., Chauncey "Art" Four Bear, Chester Armstrong Four Bear, and Nelson Young Hawk; sisters, Gladys (Young Hawk) Hawk and Julia Ramona (Four Bear) Bearsheart.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, March 24, 2023, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sturgis with Fr. Kim Fonder officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service and burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.