Josephine LaRoche, 95, of Fort Pierre, SD passed on away Friday, May 5, 2023 at Edgewood Assisted Living in Pierre, SD. Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00am on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Scotty Philip Cemetery at Fort Pierre.

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Josephine R. Doyle was born on March 19th, 1928 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, SD. She was the twelfth of thirteen children (two died in infancy) born to Irish immigrant parents, James L. and Elizabeth M. (Hackett) Doyle.

As did her siblings, Jo attended McKinley Grade School and Pierre Junior and Senior High School. While in high school Jo was active in several choral groups, the drama program and cheerleading. Jo graduated with the class of 1946 and was elected homecoming queen in her senior year. In the summer of 1946, Jo and another classmate were invited by National Geographic Magazine to pose with the South Dakota state flag in front of the mural on the wall of the governor’s office in the state capitol. That photo, and several others in the Pierre area, were published in the May, 1947 issue of that magazine.

In 1945 Jo met Gerald E. (Bud) LaRoche of Fort Pierre. They married in 1948 and enjoyed many happy years together. Bud died in October of 1975 following a brief illness.

After graduation, Jo was hired by the state auditor’s office. She resigned from the state in 1952 to take a position with the Pierre Finance Corporation and Insurance Agency. The Finance Corp. was sold in 1975 and Jo remained with the insurance agency as secretary/bookkeeper and licensed agent. In 1982 the agency merged with Erickson & Thorpe Agency which later became Fischer Rounds and Associates. Jo retired from insurance in 1993 and was hired by Ice Flying Service. She retired for good in 2015.

Jo joined the Pierre Bowling Association competing in several leagues, both mens and womens. She also served in official positions in the leagues. She managed a state- wide ladies invitational tournament for thirty years. In 1974 Jo won the State Ladies 600 Tournament and in 2008 she was inducted into the Pierre U.S.B.C. Bowling Association Hall of Fame. In 2016 she was inducted into the S.D.U.S.B.C. State Bowling Association Hall of Fame.

As a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Jo was active in the altar society, serving as secretary/treasurer and assisted with fundraising for kitchen equipment and supplies for the new church hall.

She loved anything Irish and was thrilled to be the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pierre. The Doyle reunions held in Pierre/Ft. Pierre every three years were a source of much merriment and many happy memories. They were often attended by nearly 100 family members from all corners of the US and Canada.

In November of 2021, Jo became a resident of Edgewood Assisted Living Center in Pierre, Jo had a special connection with some of her caregivers and reconnected with some of her former schoolmates while there.

Jo is predeceased by all of her siblings and spouses as well as many other very dear family members and friends. As Jo often said, “When you live to be this old, you say goodbye to a lot of people.”

Jo is survived by one brother-in-law, Louie LaRoche and his friend, Ruth Luden of Rapid City, SD, twenty nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and a host of friends who shared many good times.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre.

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