Marcella LeBeau facts for kids
Marcella Ryan LeBeau (born October 12, 1919 – died November 21, 2021) was an amazing Lakota elder, politician, nurse, and military veteran. She was also known as Marcella Le Beau and Wigmuke Waste' Win.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Marcella LeBeau was born in October 1919. Her Lakota name was Wigmuke Waste' Win, which means Pretty Rainbow Woman. She was born in Promise, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Her parents were Joseph M. Ryan and Florence Four Bear Ryan. Her mother was from the Two Kettles subtribe of the Lakota people. Her father was Irish-American.
Marcella was the oldest of five children. When she was ten, her mother passed away, and her father raised her. Marcella helped a lot with the household. She learned to cook and sew to take care of her younger brothers and sisters. As a child, she went to an Indian boarding school.
In 1942, she earned her nursing degree. She studied at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, South Dakota.
Career as a Nurse and Soldier
After finishing her studies, Marcella LeBeau started working as a registered nurse in Pontiac, Michigan. In 1943, she decided to join the United States Army Nurse Corps. She wanted to help during World War II.
LeBeau served in several countries, including France, England, and Belgium. She was part of the 76th General Hospital unit. She even helped during the Battle of the Bulge, a very important battle. She left the Army as a First Lieutenant.
When the war ended, she returned to Rapid City, South Dakota. There, she faced racial segregation. This meant she was treated differently because of her race. For example, she wasn't allowed to buy certain items at the grocery store.
Marcella LeBeau later worked for the Indian Health Service (IHS). She became the director of nursing at the IHS center in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. She worked for IHS for 31 years before she retired. Because of her great work in medicine, she received special awards.
Working for Her Community
In 1991, Marcella LeBeau was elected to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council. This meant she became a leader for her tribe. While on the council, she worked hard to make her community healthier. She banned smoking in tribal meeting rooms. She also promoted other rules to stop smoking.
Her efforts helped the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation become the first smoke-free community in South Dakota. This was a big step for public health.
Later Life and Achievements
Marcella LeBeau received many honors throughout her life. In 2004, she was given the Legion of Honour. This is a very high award from France for her service in World War II. In 2006, she was added to the South Dakota Hall of Fame.
In 2016, she received the Women in History Award. This award came from the Spirit of the Prairie Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also received an honorary degree from South Dakota State University.
On October 12, 2019, Marcella LeBeau celebrated her 100th birthday! The state of South Dakota declared that day "Wigmuke Waste Win (Pretty Rainbow Woman) Marcella LeBeau Day." She also received a special tribute from Senator John Thune. She got a beautiful quilt from the North American Indian Women's Association, an organization she helped start.
Marcella LeBeau strongly supported the Remove the Stain Act. This act in the United States Congress wants to take away medals given to American soldiers who were involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre. In 2019, she spoke at a ceremony to introduce this bill. She spoke alongside Deb Haaland at the U.S. Capitol.
In 2020, the National Congress of American Indians gave Marcella LeBeau a Leadership Award.
Marcella LeBeau passed away on November 21, 2021, at the age of 102. She was married and had eight children.
