Brent 'Congo' Leo Hood, Sr.
August 18, 1978 - March 13, 2020

​Funeral services for Brent “Congo” Leo Hood, Sr., 41, of Lower Brule, SD, were held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020, at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule, SD.
Wake services were held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and Thursday, March 19, 2020, at the Lower Brule Community Center of Lower Brule, SD.
Burial was at the Messiah Episcopal Cemetery at Iron Nation, SD.
Brent “Congo” Leo Hood, Sr. died March 13, 2020, at Brookings, SD, at the age of 41.
Brent “Congo” Leo Hood, Sr. was born Aug. 18, 1978, at Chamberlain, SD, to Darlene (Charging Whirlwind) and Bates Hood, Sr.
He attended both Lower Brule Elementary and high school of Lower Brule, SD, graduating in 1998. In his high school career, he had a passion for sports, including football, basketball and cross country, earning him the following awards – Lion Heart Award Cross Country 1993-1994, Co-Most Valuable Player Cross Country 1994, MVP Boys Basketball 1994-1995, Class B All Indian Tournament – All Tourney 1995, Most Dedicated in 1996-1997 and Most Inspirational 1997-1998. One of his fond memories in high school was being able to shoot pool at the Junior Nationals.
In the spring of 1999, Congo met the love of his life, Claudia and together they carried on. Claudia supported Congo in whatever activity he was in, whether it was for softball with Lyle, Mag, Michael D., pool with Troy, Lee and Yamni or horseshoes with Jim and Mag. When Claudia wasn’t with him, which was very rare, he would come home and tell her all about it, whether it was getting kicked out of a pool tournament with Yamni or not letting Lee order food for them any more, not knowing what he was going to be taste testing, to dancing in the streets with Lyle, adventures of fishing and ice fishing with Jim and Lyle, the list goes on and on.
On July 4, 2001, Congo and Claudia welcomed their baby girl, their princess, Laneisha Marie Hood. She stole his heart.
On Dec. 18, 2003, they welcomed their twin boys, Peyton James Hood
and Demery George Hood.
In the fall, Sept. 15, 2006, they welcomed Brent Leo “Bad” Hood, Jr. to the family.
On Aug. 17, 2007, Congo and Claudia got married and on May 13, 2011, they welcomed their fifth child, Michael Lee Hood, which completed the family.
Congo stayed active with softball, pool, horseshoes and adding his kids’ sports into the mix. Claudia and Congo adjusted their schedules according to the seasons, summer meant softball with his boys, Peyton, Demery and Brent, Jr. Michael just couldn’t wait to start playing with him on the field, constantly asking if he could go in for him. He was the proudest father out there being able to play with his boys. Fall and winter meant pool, football, basketball, and wrestling, only to do it all over again the following year.
Congo was the first player to earn the “Shane Durkin” Award during the Lower Brule Fair. Congo played on SDS Express Dirtdawgs, Kul Wicasa and Mabe’s Boys.
He enjoyed being with friends and loved being with his family. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching his favorite teams, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Cubs, throwing horseshoes with friends and loved throwing the
softball around and playing golf with his children. He was always bragging his kids up to anyone and everyone who listened. He enjoyed telling his kids stories of his childhood.
There are many wonderful aspects to Congo’s life and many ways that he touched our lives. He will be remembered as a wonderful brother, a great friend, an amazing uncle, cousin, outdoorsman, son and incredible husband.
In these ways and more, he made our lives richer and fuller. He lives in our memories and stories and in what all of us have become because of him.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Claudia Hood; sons, Peyton Hood, Demery Hood, Brent Hood, Jr. and Michael Hood; his one and only daughter, Laneisha Hood; faithful pets, Biggie, Hopper and Puma; his
father, Bates Hood, Sr.; sisters, Trudy Hood and Lovetta Hood; sisters-in-law, Mimi Johnson and Dawn Johnson; brothers, Bates Hood, Jr., Llewelyn Hood, Jim Koster and Lyle Whitney; brothers-in-law, Bunky Johnson and wife, Sally, Richard Johnson and Sheridan Banks; his special nieces, Tiara Grassrope and Jesslyn Estes; granddaughters, Hailey Grassrope and Anjelica Grassrope; aunties, Marlene Quinn and Beverly Wilson; uncles, Arnold Sazue, Emmett Goodface and Charlie Quinn; nieces, Nina Lanae and Billie
Jean and nephews, Collin Latrell, Dominique Odell, Jr., Ethan Jordan, Bates Henry III, Tayne Verdell, Marlyn James, Felix Stanley and Brycen Lee.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Darlene Hood; an aunt, Jeannette Charging Whirlwind and uncles, Clifford Charging Whirlwind and Morgan.
Hickey Funeral Chapel of Chamberlain, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
The obituary may be seen at www.hickeyfuneralchapel.com.