Mass of Christian Burial for Joseph C. Picotte, Sr. age 69 of McLaughlin will be 1:00 PM Monday, December 8, 2014 at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Bullhead. Burial will be in the church cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Sunday, December 7, 2014 starting at 5PM with a Rosary at 7PM at the church. Joseph passed away Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.

Joseph C. Picotte was born February 18, 1945 at Bullhead, SD to Joseph and Dori (DeRockbraine) Picotte. After high school he moved to California to attend welding school, after completing he moved to Minnesota and worked for Honeywell.

Joe attended Northern State College for a short time, and then attended Mary College in Bismarck, ND graduating with a BS Degree in Business Administration. He worked various jobs for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and worked with the BIA office in Aberdeen. Joe was the Business Manager for the Pine Ridge Loneman School in Oglala, SD, and numerous tribal schools. He attended the Bethel University in Minnesota to become a pastor, after he received his degree from the University he became pastor on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.

Joe enjoyed hunting and loved to tell stories that had a value to them right or wrong. He enjoyed telling funny stories and had a way to make you laugh. He was a very caring man and would help out family and strangers alike.

Joe is survived by his six children; Candance (Daniel) Folley, Reuben J. Fast Horse, Lisa M. Picotte, Kay Lynn (Bob) Ridley, Carlus (Florentine) Picotte, Joseph C. Picotte Jr. (Marion) Picotte, 17 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and 1 sister; Colleen (Gary) Buckley.

He was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy DeRockbraine, father Joseph Sylvester Picotte, and 1 granddaughter; Nadia Sunshine Picotte.