Cpl. Tanner O'Leary of Eagle Butte, South Dakota grew up in the Eagle Butte and Timber Lake areas. He attended school in Timber Lake and graduated from there in 2003. He participated in football, basketball, track and numerous school plays. He also enjoyed playing pool, boxing, wrestling, golfing, and hunting. Tanner was well-known for his sense of humor and his love of music. During high school, he worked at Octa-Flex and Biegler Equipment. Following high school, he attended Presentation College for a year. During this time, he was blessed with his daughter, Alexis O'Leary, on June 23, 2003. While in Aberdeen, Tanner worked as a welder at Twin City Fan and Specialty Trailers. He worked for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe before joining the U.S. Army in January 2005. He finished basic training and Airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga. He also attended Special Forces training and was assigned to document security. In July 2007, he joined the infantry to support other family and friends who were serving overseas. Before going overseas, he spent several weeks with his family in Timber Lake. Tanner had a special affinity for children. He enjoyed singing and spending time with his beloved daughter. Grateful for knowing and loving Tanner are his mother, Carmen O'Leary of Timber Lake; sister, Tully O'Leary of Timber Lake; daughter, Alexis O'Leary of Mankato, Minn.; grandmothers, Arlene O'Leary of Timber Lake and Evelyn O'Leary of Eagle Butte; great-grandmother, Mabel Hinzman of Eagle Butte; aunt, Ramona LeBeau of Sturgis; aunt Margaret Mary O'Leary and family. Close aunts and uncles: Tim and Marcia O'Leary, Ramona and Gary Simon, Dennis O'Leary, Glade and Nancy Deckert and Albert and Deleen Kougl; cousins he grew up with: Brian (Calee) O'Leary and daughter, Samantha; Garret (Gaylene) Simon and sons, Dimitri Fast Horse and Tuffy Simon; Rustin Simon; Melissa (Jay) O'Leary-Kunf and children, Brianna, Grace and Nicholas; Marie (Richard) Gross and daughters, Allison and Natalie; Shanna (Riley) Anderson; Blaine O'Leary; Danial Kougl; Steven (fiance Amy Wikle) O'Leary; Veronica O'Leary; William (fiance Justine Pabst) Kougl; Jewel Kougl; Jim O'Leary and Laura O'Leary. Step-brother, Karlyle Brings Plenty; step-sister, Stevie Lynn Brings Plenty. Other relatives that were veterans: Fred LeBeau, Gib LeBeau, Marcella LeBeau, Frank LeBeau, Lawrence O'Leary, Irene O'Leary, Steven O'Leary, Brian O'Leary (active), Alex Aplan (active) and Karlyle Brings Plenty (active). He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Lawrence O'Leary and Mark O'Leary; and great-aunts, Margaret and Irene O'Leary; and family friend, Steve Kunf.