James Clifford LeCaine of Brooks, Alberta, passed away peacefully 26 February 2024 after a prolonged illness at the age of 85. Clifford, or "Hakší hakela," was born 15 January 1939 on the Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation, Saskatchewan, the youngest of ten children born to Walter and Caroline O'kute-sica. He grew up on the Wood Mountain Reservation, building the foundation of his life-long love of hunting in the hills and valleys that are unique to that area of the Saskatchewan grasslands, and working alongside his parents at an early age as his siblings were taken away to Residential Schools. Clifford married the love of his life (although as her son I'm questioning the decision because she keeps interrupting me while I'm writing this obituary) in 1963, and moved his family to Alberta in 1970, before settling permanently in Brooks, in 1973. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret and their children: Caroline Kerr (husband Donald), Michelle LeCaine, and Duane LeCaine (wife Tammy), as well as 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Irene Poitras of Fort Qu'Appel, Saskatchewan, who, Clifford would surely mention, is a spry 99 years young. Clifford is predeceased by his daughter Marina Bittner, parents Walter and Caroline, and siblings Margaret, Joseph, Rose, Valerie, Pauline, Doris, Willard and Lee. A Memorial Service will be planned at a later date and time. In lieu of flowers or well wishes, we suggest simply having a hot cup of coffee in his memory (if you're so inclined) and supporting the economies of the coffee-growing nations of the world, as Clifford coffee drinking prowess had few equals! The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of Sunrise Gardens and the Long-term Care Facility of the Brooks Hospital for their unfailing assistance and support over the past several years.

Cremation is entrusted to and conducted at

Smith Funeral Home Ltd., Brooks