Willard Andrew ‘Boxcar’ Voice
June 29, 1966 – June 19, 2020

Funeral services for Willard Andrew “Boxcar” Voice, 53, of Fort Thompson, SD, were held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2020, at the Conkicaske Presbyterian Church of Fort Thompson, SD.
Wake services were held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2020, and Thursday, June 25, 2020, at the Conkicaske Presbyterian Church of Fort Thompson, SD.
Burial was at the Bad Nation Family Cemetery of Fort Thompson, SD.
Willard Andrew “Boxcar” Voice began his journey to the Spirit World on June 19, 2020, from the Sanford University of South Dakota Medical Center of Sioux Falls, SD, at the age of 53, due to kidney and heart failure.
Willard Andrew “Boxcar” Voice was born June 29, 1966, to William “Jiggs” Voice and Arlene Harrison/Voice.
He was united in marriage to Deirdra Iyotte on June 29, 2006.
He had five children – three sons, Marty (Sage) Voice of Big Bend, SD, Talon Voice of Rapid City, SD, Tanner Gray of Rapid City, SD, Michael and Devin Gray (deceased) and two daughters, Williamette Voice of Fort
Thompson, SD, and Cheyenne (Brad) Gray of Big Bend, SD.
He raised his granddaughter, BrynLee LaRose Seeking Land as his own and that was her “Papa.” He had five grandchildren – Bentley, BrynLee, Aniya, Kaleah and SheaBlu.
Boxcar attended school at Fort Thompson Elementary of Fort Thompson, SD, and Crow Creek Tribal School of Stephan, SD, graduating in 1985.
He had various jobs such as branding for local area ranchers, a cop with the Fort Thompson Police Department, security guard at the Golden Buffalo Casino, worked as a security guard for the Minnesota airport and he helped build the Conkicaske Presbyterian Church.
Boxcar and his family have always been interested and involved in rodeos, particularly the rough stock events. So when his father, Jiggy passed away, his family decided to sponsor an annual bull riding event called the Bull-O-Rama in his honor which they did for several years. To produce such an event took a group effort of family, friends and relatives. Everyone chose their positions or job that they wanted to do, whether it be at the gate taking tickets, in the crow’s nest taking entries, timing, on the whistle, being a rodeo judge, sorting stock behind the chutes, working the strip chute, loading the bucking chutes or opening the chute gates. Boxcar was always extremely fast on his feet and very agile for a man of his size. He chose the
most dangerous job in the arena. He chose to be the bullfighter. His job was to distract the bull and get between the bull and his rider after the whistle blew or after the rider got bucked off. He had brothers, nephews, friends and relatives who were also contestants and a lot of times they would refuse to call for the gate unless Boxcar was out there and in a position to protect them from the bull. That’s how much he was depended on and how well he did his job.
Outside of the arena and in his daily life, Boxcar took care of and protected his family and friends the very same way.
His hobbies included playing softball for the Fort Thompson Heaters, Kul Wicasa and the Skindians.
He loved watching demolition derbys.
He was a bull rider then became a bullfighter.
He loved wild horse and Indian relay racing.
He loved branding for local area ranchers.
Grateful for having shared his life are his three sisters, Teresa Voice of Fort Thompson, SD, Natalie Voice of Fort Thompson, SD, and Donna Voice and Monte of Fort Thompson, SD; five brothers, Bruce Moss and Shauna of Perry, Utah, Ted Voice and Val of Fort Thompson, SD, Oren Voice and Shelly of Fort Thompson, SD, Rick Voice and Brenda of Fort Thompson, SD, and Bill Voice and Buffy of Fort Thompson, SD; two hunka brothers, Wes Fire Cloud, who was always by his side and was his uber driver to and from the hospitals and Diz Herman and Marilyn; two special aunts, Pauline Zephier and Alsephine Joseph and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arlene and Jiggs Voice; three sisters, Geraldine McBride, Mavis McGhee and Williamette (Tiny) Voice; three brothers, Thomas Voice, Ira Voice and Baby Boy Voice; two sons,
Michael Gray II and Devin Gray; his maternal grandparents, Russell and Ida Harrison and his paternal grandparents, William “Bill” and Ada Voice.
Hickey Funeral Chapel of Chamberlain, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
The obituary may be seen at www.hickeyfuneralchapel.com.