Funeral services for Daisy LeCompte, age 74, of McLaughlin will be at 2PM, Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge. Fr. Ron Garry will be officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be 2 hours prior to services. Daisy passed away Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck.

Daisy LeCompte was born to Vivian (Shooter) and Sam Cadotte, Jr. on March 22, 1937 in Fort Yates, ND. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Chamberlain, SD and graduated from high school at Fort Yates, ND. She continued her education as she attended Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD. She valued her Catholic education and training.

Daisy then began her career in government service for a total of 40 years service time. She started her career with the government forest service and in 1966, she was placed in Administration at the McLaughlin IHS Clinic. During her career at IHS, Daisy made every effort to assist the public and patients, she realized that health care on the Standing Rock Reservation faced many obstacles such as remote locations and to ensure everyone received maximum health care.

Daisy retired from government service in 2001. One of her recommendations after her retirement was that the Aberdeen Area Office build a new larger health facility on the South Dakota side of the reservation and that the area office send representative to the South Dakota reservations to make community and home visits in order to improve existing health care.

As Daisy was busy with her IHS career, her and her husband Narcisse LeCompte started working on their cattle operation in 1978 and whenever possible, Daisy rode and worked alongside her husband until 1993 when Narcisse passed away. Her and her son Robert took over all aspects in running their family cattle operation thus making further improvements. Daisy bore many responsibilities from handling all the paper work that all businessmen have to, to fencing, pulling breeched calves, to riding alongside her son in all weather conditions. She never complained when she got kicked and plowed over by many a cow and calf. She preferred to use saddle horses instead of ATV's for she felt it caused less stress on their cattle. She believed in free-range cattle with no use of chemicals or enhancing medicine or feed. Everything was to be natural and pure.

Daisy had great compassion and empathy for her stock. For example, when they had a get together in order to brand their calves, to move their herd to another pasture, or to transport a sick cow/calf to the vet, she insisted all safety precautions be met and that everyone was well-fed and fairly paid. Daisy and her son Robert ran a clean and safe cattle operation.

Her father, Sam Cadotte, Jr. and mother Vivian operated and ran cattle north of Mobridge, SD and Daisy enjoyed that type of work and living the country life. She started riding bareback at age 5 on her first horse (not a pony) named Freckles. As she progressed, she took many a tumble and bruises but she always got back on again. That was her philosophy of life, never give up and being fearless. As a 4th grader at St. Joseph Catholic School in Chamberlain, SD, Daisy won her class award and on awards day that spring her award was to go on a airplane ride. The bi-plane landed at the Catholic School and flew off with Daisy on board. These planes after the war went all over the country performing at air shows and these times were known as the barn-storming days. The plane performed loops and barrel-rolls and after landing, the pilot remarked to the Catholic nun that this little 4th grader showed no fear, and that Daisy asked the pilot if they could go up and fly again. This was typical of Daisy's approach to life, to try new adventures and to be brave. Because of this attitude and her deep Catholic faith, Daisy bore her last days with courage and determination to recover and get well, but this was not to be. Daisy passed away at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, ND on February 29, 2012. Daisy's son Robert was by her side and noted that during that time she bore her stay there with great dignity, bravery, and never once complained.

Daisy is survived by one son Robert, one grandchild Natalie Rose of Grand Rapids, MI, one sister Violet Dauphinaus of Bismarck, ND, one brother Gene Cadotte of Mobridge, SD and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Narcisse, father Sam Cadotte, Jr., and mother Vivian (Yellow) Shooter.