June 17, 1937 - Feb. 23, 2008
REDWOOD FALLS -- Leon "Shorty" Columbus (whose Indian name was "Anpetu Tawa"), 70, of the Lower Sioux Community died Saturday at Seasons Hospice in Redwood Falls.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Lower Sioux Community Center. Burial will be in St. Cornelia's Episcopal Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. today at the Lower Sioux Community Center and continue until the time of service Tuesday. There will be prayer services at 5 and 7 p.m. today. Arrangements are by Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls.
He was born June 17, 1937, in Pipestone to Thomas and Eleanor (St. Clair) Columbus. He attended Bishop Whipple School on the Lower Sioux Community and schools in Pipestone and in Flandreau, S.D. He later attended vocational-technical school in Arizona. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He served overseas in Italy.
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He lived at the Lower Sioux Community. He was married to Barbara Clemons and later to Joann Pendleton before marrying Mary Ann Chesley. He worked as a tailor, a roofer, and also worked in refrigeration, heating and cooling. He owned and operated Dacotah lawn and snow removal business.
In his younger years he was a member of Golden Gloves.
He is survived by his siblings: Tim (and Mary) of San Diego, Calif., Roland (and Fawn) of Redwood Falls, Lillian Wilson of the Lower Sioux, LaVonne (and Dan) Swenson of the Lower Sioux, Glenford (and Violet) of the Lower Sioux, Sandra (and Ray) Geshick of the Lower Sioux, Marilyn His Day of the Lower Sioux, Vincent of the Lower Sioux, Dan Grey Eagle of the Lower Sioux, Christopher of Redwood Falls and Melissa (and Christopher) Chee of the Lower Sioux; and Hunka sister: Shirley Big Eagle of Mission, S.D.; and his stepchildren: Russell, Cathy, Carla, Jeff and Brian Pendleton.
He was preceded in death by his siblings.
