Mass of Christian Burial for David D. Harrison Sr. (Dee) 80, Fort Yates, ND, will be Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 10 AM at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ft. Yates, ND. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 starting at 5PM with a prayer service a 7PM. Mr. Harrison entered the Spirit World December 28, 2012 at Sanford Medical Center, Bismarck, ND. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, ND under the direction of Kesling Funeral of Mobridge, SD. Military honors will be provided by the Ft. Yates American Legion Post # 173.

David was born March 30, 1932 to Henry and Elizabeth (Stellflug) Harrison. He grew up on the family ranch south of Fort Yates, ND. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954 and honorably discharged.

David returned to North Dakota in 1962. As an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, he was one of Standing Rock's successful American Indian ranchers, operating his ranch for over 40 years. David served as part-time Deputy Sheriff for Sioux County; he served on the Saint Bernard's Mission Building Committee for the new church in Fort Yates; and he belonged to the American Legion Post #173, Fort Yates, ND. David's marriage to Deanna Rector brought forth two children: Joan and David Jr. In 1982, he married Arlene (Thomas) Ramey.

Having grown up with horses, Dee enjoyed being around them – especially with his long-lived Morgan stallion Cass – and with other people who love horses. When it came to getting things done, he was self-reliant and persistent, spending time in his shop fixing farm machinery and equipment for him and others, often improving upon manufactured designs with innovations of his own. Always good-natured, he was a steady and reliable influence, helping other family members, neighbors and friends with projects and chores. He loved to tell stories and tease good-naturedly and he loved his grandchildren.

He is survived by son David Jr., McLaughlin, SD and daughter Joan Cottrell, Mandan, ND; grandchildren Kinzey, Mercedes, Bray and Rope Harrison, all McLaughlin, SD, Justin (Chaisdey) Johnson, Bismarck, ND, Erika Johnson, Rose Hill, KS; great grandchildren McKenna and Brantley Johnson, Bismarck, ND; brothers Joe, Ft. Yates, Henry G. (Annie), Ft. Yates, Ben (Luella), Porcupine, ND; sisters Henrietta Marvin, Ft. Yates, Beata (Dennis) Crotty, Pembina, ND, and Emma Harrison, Pembina, ND; many nephews, nieces and other extended-family members.

In the Spirit World he joins his father and mother; brothers Charles "Kernel," Bill, Leroy, Jim, and John; and sisters Alice Underberg and Mary Poitra.