Buzz Reeves

Funeral services for Buzz Reeves, 88, of Eagle Butte, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026 at the Eagle Butte Bingo Hall. Buzz passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Monument Health in Rapid City. Interment under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge, will be in the Eagle Butte Cemetery. For 88 years, Frankie Gene "Buzz" Reeves rode a trail defined by family, faith, hard work, horses, cattle, and an unwavering devotion to the cowboy way of life. He passed away on September 22, 2026, but the legacy he built will continue in the people he loved, the horses he raised, and the generations who learned from his example. Buzz was born in Brownfield, Texas, on May 20, 1938, to Arthur and Frankie Reeves. He was the brother of Dean Reeves and was raised in a family where the cowboy way was not simply a tradition—it was a way of life. From an early age, Buzz found his place in the saddle, on the ranch, and in the wide-open country he loved. By the eighth grade, Buzz had decided he had learned enough in the classroom. His future was on horseback. And so it was. A horse beneath him, cattle in front of him, and the open country around him were where Buzz was most at home. He didn't simply learn the cowboy way—he lived it, carried it with pride, and passed it on to those who came after him. And being a cowboy from Texas, even after all these years, he still had that certain Texas way of saying things. Buzz shared his life with his beloved wife, Faye Marion Annis. Together, they built a life that was rooted in family, faith, horses, cattle, hard work, and a deep love for the Western way of life. Their life together was a partnership in every sense of the word, and together they were blessed with five children: D'Aun Delbert, Kevin Keith, JoBeth, Charles "Kip" Arthur, and Melissa Elaine. For Buzz, being a husband and father wasn't just another part of his life—it was his greatest responsibility and one of his greatest joys. His family knew the sound of his voice, the stories he told, the lessons he taught, and the quiet ways he showed that he cared. Much of what he knew about life was learned from a horse, a piece of good ground, a herd of cattle, or a hard day's work, and he passed those lessons along in his own unmistakable way. Rodeo was another great love of Buzz's life. He rode broncs at RCA, NRCA, and SDRA rodeos, experiencing firsthand the courage, toughness, and determination required to climb aboard and enjoy the ride. Later, after starting a family, he stepped away from rough stock. But stepping away from competition never meant stepping away from rodeo. Buzz remained a rodeo man at heart. At age 50, he went on to participate and win in the Old Man's Breakaway Roping, earning a few buckles and other prizes, including a jacket/NRCA Finals/1988 and an Average Finals SDRA buckle. He also began Team Roping with his wife Faye as his heeler during the hard-n-fast roping era in the 60s and 70s. As soon as dally roping began, Faye quit him because she didn't want to lose any fingers. So he had to find other partners, such as his brother-in-law Keith Annis and his good buddy Jim Pearman. These accomplishments were a testament to the skill, determination, and competitive spirit that remained with him throughout his life. In later years, one of his greatest pleasures was sitting in the stands and watching his children and grandchildren compete. He was there to encourage them, support them, and share in the excitement. Whether they were riding, roping, racing, or simply finding their own place in the Western way of life, Buzz was proud to watch them carry the tradition forward. And then there were the horses. Buzz had a deep and lasting love for raising good horses. To him, a good horse was something special. He understood horses, respected them, and knew the value of a well-bred animal. When he looked at a horse, he didn't just look at the head. He started from the hooves and looked over the horse completely. He could look at a horse and tell you if it'd make a good cow horse or a good kid horse. He used to say he always wished he had the eye for horses that his dad did...but he did. He just knew horses. Cowboying wasn't something Buzz did for a living or a hobby—it was who he was. For Buzz and Faye, that love became a lifelong legacy. Together, they were honored in 2023 by both the South Dakota Quarter Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association for 75 years of breeding and producing Quarter Horses. Seventy-five years is more than an accomplishment—it is a lifetime of dedication, early mornings, long days, good horses, hard work, and a commitment to something they believed in. Their Quarter Horses became part of their family's story, just as their family became part of the story of those horses. Perhaps Buzz's greatest legacy, however, wasn't found in a trophy, a rodeo arena, or a good horse. It was found in his family. He was a proud grandfather to Dusty Reeves Kusser, Jason Reeves, (The late) D'Aunna Dee Reeves, Robert Reeves, Rio Reeves, Samantha Reeves, Cinch Reeves, Jacie Schrempp, Jada Jacobs, Jordan Reeves, Melaina Wientjes, and J'Kye Wientjes. And a proud great grandfather to ten great grandkids. Buzz watched the next generation grow up around the very things that had shaped his own life. He watched them ride, compete, work, learn, and find their own paths. And while he may not have always said everything that was in his heart, those who knew him best understood how deeply he loved his family and how proud he was of them. The stories of Buzz will be told for years to come. Stories about horses. Stories about cattle. Stories about rodeos. Stories about family. Stories about the things he said, the things he did, and probably a few stories that grow a little taller every time they are told. That is the way a cowboy's legacy should be. Buzz leaves behind more than memories. He leaves behind a way of life. He leaves behind children and grandchildren who carry pieces of him with them. He leaves behind horses that are part of his story, lessons that will continue to be passed down, and a family that knows what it means to work hard, love deeply, and stay true to who they are. There comes a time when every cowboy has to turn his horse toward home. On September 22, Buzz took that final ride. The saddle may be empty now. The barn may be a little quieter. The familiar voice may no longer be calling across the pasture. But the trail he made is still there. It is in every horse his family raises. In every piece of advice remembered. In every story told around the table. And in every generation that carries the cowboy spirit forward. Buzz spent 88 years riding his own trail, and he rode it well. He was a cowboy until the end. Rest easy, Buzz. Your saddle is empty, but your trail will never end. Ride on, Cowboy. We'll see you down the trail.