[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 211 (Tuesday, December 7, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





           RECOGNIZING AND HONORING MARCELLA ROSE RYAN LeBEAU

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUSTY JOHNSON

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2021

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
and honor the life of Marcella Rose Ryan LeBeau, Wigmu>ke Waste Wi> 
(Pretty Rainbow Woman), of the Cheyenne River Oohenu>pa (Two Kettle) 
Lakota Nation. Marcella LeBeau, a decorated veteran of the Second World 
War and a constant advocate for Indian country, passed away on November 
22, 2021 at the age of 102.
  Mrs. LeBeau was born in 1919, in Promise, South Dakota, and was a 
member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. After the death of her mother 
and grandmother, LeBeau attended an Indian boarding school where she 
faced much discrimination and was barred from speaking the Lakota 
language.
  When LeBeau was 23 she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps and served in 
England, France, and Belgium during the Second World War. As a nurse 
with the 76th General Hospital Unit, she treated frontline soldiers 
during the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. According 
to Mrs. LeBeau, ``it was the greatest honor of my life to serve.''
  After the war, LeBeau continued to serve her community as an R.N. for 
31 years until she retired as the director of nursing for the Indian 
Health Service on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Marcella also 
served on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council from 1991 to 1995 
where she succeeded in leading a campaign to ban smoking in tribal 
buildings.
  Mrs. LeBeau remained active in organizations and advocacy for Native 
Americans' rights and health and was a co-founding member of the North 
American Indian Women's Association.
  Mrs. LeBeau married Gilbert LeBeau in 1947 and together they had 
eight children, 29 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and three 
great-great-grandchildren.
  LeBeau has been recognized and honored in many ways throughout her 
life. In 2004, LeBeau was awarded the French Legion of Honor for her 
service in World War II, which is the highest honor given by the French 
government. She was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2006 
and awarded the Women in History Award from the Spirit of the Prairie 
Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2016. LeBeau 
also received an honorary doctorate degree in Public Service from South 
Dakota State University in 2018. In 2020, the National Congress of the 
American Indian recognized her with a leadership award, and USA Today 
named her as one of the most influential women of the century. On 
November 6, 2021, she was inducted into the National Native American 
Hall of Fame.
  Madam Speaker, Marcella LeBeau dedicated her life to the service of 
her family, her tribe, and her nation. I ask that my colleagues join me 
in honoring her contributions to our nation and the people of South 
Dakota. I extend my deepest condolences to the LeBeau family, Marcella 
will be deeply missed.

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