Delbert Frances “Pete” Longbrake, 91, of Dupree, S.D. passed away Monday, August, 28,2023 at the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood, South Dakota.
Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM (MT) Monday, September 4, 2023, followed by a prayer service at 6:30 PM (MT) at The Pioneer Hall in Dupree.
A Celebration of Life service will begin at 9:45 AM (MT) with four Bronc Riders in memory of Pete, followed by the service at 10:00 AM (MT) Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at the Dupree Rodeo Grounds.
Burial will be in the Dupree Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to The Dupree Rodeo Committee, PO Box 92, Dupree, SD 57623.
Delbert Francis “Pete” Longbrake was born June 27, 1932, on Rattlesnake Creek in rural Ziebach County and passed away on August 28, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood, SD. He was the 4th of 9 children born to Delbert and Marietta (Bridwell) Longbrake. He has lived in the same rural area his entire life, moving a few miles from where he was born, to Ash Creek.
He attended two years of country school near home, and then attended Cheyenne River Agency Boarding School, graduating in 1950. He worked for area ranchers in his young life (Butler’s, Johnson’s, Frame’s, Bachman’s, Knight’s, Western Catte Co.) also helping his mother at home. He broke a lot of horses, did what he needed to do and made many lifetime friends in the area.
He was drafted into the Army in January of 1953. He boarded the USS Missouri on his 21st birthday and spent 14 months in Korea. He was honorably discharged in January 1955. Pete returned home to start his rodeo and ranching career.
Pete was very modest about his rodeo career as a contestant. He concentrated on saddle bronc riding. In spite of an injury to his left knee, he won several championships. Along with his good neighbor and friend, he also won the SDRA team roping championship in 1961 or ’62. But bronc riding was always his favorite.
Pete started riding bucking horses after watching Chauncy Mandan ride a bronc. Pete was about 14 years old and knew that’s what he wanted to do. He won Championships in the SDRA, NRCA, AAIAA, GPRIA and NOTRA. Pete competed in every event he could. He rode broncs, roped and steer wrestled into the 1970’s. Pete rode his last competitive bronc in 1973 at the Pat Byrne Match on McInerney’s Curly Wolf aka Frontier Airlines that went on to be several times RCA saddle bronc of the year. Pete got the itch again in 1979 and started riding broncs in the NOTRA, going to the finals every year, riding for the last time in 1987.
Pete was instrumental in keeping rodeo alive and well in his home state of South Dakota. He coached many a rising star in state amateurs’ associations, state high school rodeo clubs and rodeo Bible Schools.
He received the Black Hills Stock Show Pioneers Award in 2009 that recognizes individuals who played major roles in rodeo and ranching.
Pete was good friends with Eddie Bachman, a neighbor and area stock contractor, from whom Pete purchased mares and started raising his own bucking horses. He still has mares on the ranch. He formed C & L Rodeos with Lee Crowser in 1972, producing area rodeos and youth rodeos. After Lee’s passing in 1989, Pete started Longbrake Rodeos and later partnered with his son Bud.
Pete built an arena at home in 1958 and held many practice sessions there. Many young cowboys have gotten on horses in this arena and started successful rodeo careers. There are too many to mention, but there are several decades of bronc riders that got their start there. Rodeo and horses that buck are what Pete enjoyed.
Pete was an avid boxing fan. He started boxing in high school at the Agency School with Harold Schunk and continued boxing in the military. Pete started coaching boxing at Cherry Creek in 1973, later continuing at Dupree and Eagle Butte. Coaching through the years with Jess Knight, Dick Schrempp, Dean Schrempp and Gib LeBeau. He tutored many local and national youth champions.
Pete and Faye Norvold married in August 1958 in the Timber Lake Arena and lived on Ash Creek. They have sons, Delbert 1959, Jake 1960, Bud 1962 and daughter Charlie 1963. They bought the Cherry Creek Trading Post in January 1971. It was lost to fire in 1973. Pete was the Postmaster in Cherry Creek for 11 years. He also ranched and rodeoed through this time. He was Ziebach County Commissioner for 26 years.
Pete joined AA in 1979 and stayed involved the remainder of his life. He met a lot of good friends and was proud to be a part of AA.
Pete was a proud member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. On June 27, 2012, the CRST proclaimed it “Pete Longbrake Day” in honor of his 80th birthday. Living 91 years, Pete seen a big change of progress in his life. Going from kerosene lamps and wood stoves to electricity and running water, indoor toilets, man on the moon and cars that drive themselves.
Pete is survived by sons Delbert (Mona) Longbrake, Jake (Cindy) Longbrake, Bud Longbrake; daughter Charlie (Harlan) Bradshaw and special friend Mona Williams; sister June (Don) Gray, Alburquerque NM; sister-in-laws Beverly Longbrake, Judy Longbrake and Sandy Ward. Also continuing his legacy are 9 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Delbert and Marietta Longbrake; brothers Lawrence, Jack, Jamie, Ron, Bill, and Jerry; sister Jean Dillabaugh; grandchildren Jake T. and K.C. Longbrake. Also, dear friends, Jess and Edie Knight.
