Funeral services for Joseph Flying Horse, Sr., 68, of McLaughlin, SD, are 1PM, Saturday, November 21, 2015, at the Pine-Little Eagle Church of Bullhead, SD. Burial at the Pine-Little Eagle Cemetery under the direction of the Kesling Funeral Home. Visitation from 5-8PM, Friday, November 20, 2015, at the Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge, SD. Joseph passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2015, in McLaughlin.

Joseph was born to George William Flying Horse and Charlotte Speaks Walking on April 17, 1948, in Bullhead, SD. He attended grade schools in Bullhead, Loma Vista Ave. School in California, Wickenburg, AZ, Isabel, SD, and graduated high school in McIntosh, SD. While at McIntosh he lettered four years in basketball, track and cross country. In 1967 he set a new SD state record in cross country.
After his graduation he enrolled in Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD, but he left during his second year to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.

From basic training in San Diego he was sent to Officer's Candidate School as was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. After learning that his brother, John Luke; his uncle, Conrad Lee; and his cousins, Orville Long Elk and George DeRockbraine, were being sent to Vietnam he resigned his commission and was also sent to Vietnam.
Joe and his cousin, George, were sent to I Corps in Northern Vietnam, where he and George were attached to 3rd Combined Action Group, 4th Marine Amphibious Force, where they served as interpreters and combat advisors. They taught the local tribesmen the use of modern weapons and Marine Corps warfare.

After his discharge Joe went to work for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as a tribal planner. It was at this time that he met and married Frances LaFramboise. In his spare time Joe took flying lessons in Bismarck, ND, and he became a pilot in single and double engine aircraft. He continued working for the tribe and flying the Standing Rock Tribal Council and staff to their meetings.

After leaving employment with the tribe Joe met and married Alvina DeMarrias and he moved his family to Oklahoma to attend Spartan School of Aeronautics, where he graduated as an air foil mechanic and small engine aircraft mechanic. After graduation he returned with this family and moved to Grand Forks, ND, where he became a crop duster pilot.

Leaving Grand Forks, Joe moved his family to Aberdeen where they both continued their education. After Alvina's graduation they moved to Rapid City to raise their family.

Joe leaves behind his brother, Richard, sister, Sharon Leigh, brother, John Luke, Sr., sister, Patty Nelson, sister, Helen Persian, and numerous nephews, nieces, and grandchildren. He also leaves his children, Allen, Angela, Marlon, Joey, and Rosalee.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Bertha Little Eagle Mutchler, his paternal grandfather, William Flying Horse, Sr., his mother, Charlotte Speaks Walking, and his father, George W. Flying Horse.