Joseph White Mountain Sr. | 1933 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jun 27, 2023 | 4:19 PM / 413 views
Joseph White Mountain Sr., 89, of McLaughlin passed away Monday, June 26, 2023, at his home in McLaughlin. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 3, 2023 at 11:00 am at Redeemer Lutheran Church in McLaughlin, SD. Visitation will begin at 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 2 at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge with a 5:00 pm Prayer Service. Interment under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home will be at the White Mountain Family Cemetery, rural McLaughlin.
Joseph White Mountain Sr. age 89 was born in Bullhead SD, to Willis and Lucy (Crazy Hawk) White Mountain on November 22, 1933. Joe started school in Rock Creek (Bullhead); then attended school at Pierre Indian School and St. Joseph’s through the 8th grade. He received an honorary degree, Associates of Arts in General Studies from Sitting Bull College in 2012.
Joe joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January of 1952. He spent 11 months and 22 days in Korea. He was a private first class when he was discharged in January 1954. In 2015 he received the Ambassador for Peace medal from the Korean Government. He was honored at United Tribes Technical College Powwow in 2019 for being the last surviving Korean War Veteran on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
In 1960/61 he met and married the love of his life Carol Bordeaux, they spent 62 years together. Sadly, Carol passed away in November 2022 which left him heartbroken. Together, they welcomed their children Tina (Nick) Leingang, Sheila White Mountain, Joseph (Hilaree) White Mountain Jr., Lucy (Lyndon) White Mountain Fredericks, Ivan (Crystal) White Mountain, Fawn White Mountain, and Carroll James White Mountain. Joe had always stressed the importance of education with his children and was always very proud of each of their academic achievements.
Joe was part of a relocation program which allowed him various job opportunities in different states. In 1976, he moved his family back to McLaughlin, South Dakota where he then became a Probation Officer for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. From this position he advanced to a Juvenile Court Judge. He decided to throw his hat into politics starting as the District Chairman for the Bear Soldier District then becoming a Councilman Representative for the Bear Soldier District. While on council, Joe played an instrumental role in the development of the Prairie Knights Casino. He also served on the Sitting Bull College Board for many years, along with many other boards.
Joe was raised in the Lakota traditions and was a fluent speaker of the old Lakota Language. He enjoyed visiting casinos, going on drives, reading, and visiting family and many friends. He enjoyed spending the summer driving his wife Carol around to as many rummage sales as possible. Joe loved being around his family and made sure not to miss family events such as birthdays, holidays, and graduations. He especially loved being around his grandchildren and great grandchildren, teaching them the Lakota language and culture, letting them know how proud he was of them, and how much he loved them. Joe was a proud Marine who will be remembered as being helpful, kind, and having a big heart. He will be deeply and dearly missed by all of his loved ones.
Joe is survived by his brothers Anthony (Tony) White Mountain Sr. and Bernard Mountain, daughters Tina (Nick) Leingang, Sheila White Mountain, Lucy (Lyndon) Fredericks, Fawn White Mountain, sons Joe (Hilaree) White Mountain Jr, Ivan (Crystal) White Mountain, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many other relatives.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents Willis and Lucy (Crazy Hawk) White Mountain, wife Carol White Mountain, brothers Sylvester Mountain, Francis Mountain, sisters Josephine White Mountain, Audrey Marshall, Mildred White Mountain, Isabel Standing Crow, son Carroll James White Mountain, grandson Tristin Joseph Wind, granddaughter Ashely Jo Alkire and other extended relatives.