Mass of Christian burial for Mary A. Poitra, age 82, Ft. Yates, ND will be 10:00 AM, CT, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fort Yates, ND. Burial will be at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Sunday from 6:00 PM until 9:00PM with a prayer service starting at 7:00 PM at the church. Mary passed away peacefully on August 2, 2011 at the Baptist Home in Bismarck, ND with her loving family by her side.


Mary Amelia (Harrison) Poitra was born the second of 14 children to Henry and Elizabeth (Stellflug) Harrison on November 11, 1928 in Sioux County, North Dakota. She was raised on the Standing Rock Reservation and graduated from Marty Indian Mission High School in 1947. She married Art Primeaux in May 1948 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fort Yates, ND.

Mary spent the next several years living in Illinois until Art's death in 1963. Four children were born to this marriage: Jean, Bob, Richard and Dianne. In 1964, Mary moved back to Fort Yates with her children. During this time she attended secretarial college in Bismarck. Over the next 23 years she worked for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In 1985 she went to work for the Catholic Indian Mission until her retirement. Mary also served as the Mayor of Fort Yates. Being a rodeo secretary for the Fort Yates rodeos was a real enjoyment for her. She loved meeting new people and seeing old friends. Following her retirement Mary provided day care for Koty Murphy and enjoyed every minute of it. Her little "granddaughter" was one of the lights in her life. Mary married Ed Poitra in 1970 and was later divorced.

Mary's spit fire personality will be missed Mom, Grandma, sister and Auntie-we love you and will miss you dearly.

Mary is survived by her daughter Jean and her husband Ed Hall of Bismarck; her son Robert (Bob) and his special friend Lacey J. Dalton; her daughter Dianne and her fiancé Nelson Heart; adopted daughter Rosalyn Buffalo Boy, brothers David (Dee) Harrison; Joe (Della) Harrison; Henry (Annie) Harrison; Ben (Luella) Harrison; her sisters Henrietta Marvin; Beatta (Denny) Crotty; and Emma Harrison; 11 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Elizabeth Harrison; her husband Arthur Roger Primeaux; son, Richard; brothers Jim, Kernal, John, Bill, Leroy and sister Alice (Snooks).

Casketbearers are Richard Moran, Bob Harrison, Kurtis Moran, Alex Moran, Casey Hall, Richard Harrison, Chad Harrison, Dale Harrison, David Harrison, JR. and Koty Murphy.

Honorary Casketbearers are all Mary's friends and Godchildren.