JOSEPH M. LACROIX

Joseph Matthew LaCroix 51, was born September 3, 1963 in Fargo, North Dakota. He left this world surrounded by his loving family and friends on Friday, January 23 at Altru Hospital in Grand forks, ND. The son of Kenneth and Angeline (Yankton) LaCroix. He attended elementary schools in Moorhead, Minnesota, St. Michael Tribal School and St. Josephs Elementary in Devils Lake, ND. He then attended Warwick High School and Graduated with the class of 1981. He started working at Sioux Manufacturing right out of high school. In 1983 he married Melanie McKelvey and they soon started their family. In 1991 he attended UND and resided in Grand Forks until 1995. He returned St. Michaels in 1995 and started working at the Head Start Program and Dakota Tribal Industries in Fort Totten, ND. He was also a skilled carpenter and worked around the Spirit Lake Reservation. He most recently worked at Sioux Manufacturing and retired from there due to poor health in March of 2014. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, helping family, friends, and neighbors with building projects, taking rides in his pickup and visiting with family, friends, and neighbors. He enjoyed going to the casino and enjoyed playing the slots and visiting. His most treasured time was spent with his daughters and their families attending ballgames, dance recitals, celebrating birthdays, and school events of his beloved grandchildren who he thought the world of. Survivors include daughters Melissa (Jeremy) Robertson St. Michael ND, Christina (Michael) LaMont Kansas City, Missouri, Rebecca (Terrence) Klipfel, Edgeley, ND, and their mother Melanie McKelvey, Tolna, ND, daughter Amanda Standing Bear and her mother Doreen White Bull Pine Ridge SD, Daughter Sarah LaCroix and her mother Joy Good Iron St. Michaels, ND, and his special friend Harriet “Muffy” Demarce Devils Lake, ND. Grandchildren Kaitlyn, Luke, Becca, Payten Robertson, Matthew and Annie Klipfel. Brothers Kenneth LaCroix Fargo ND, Sylvester LaCroix West Fargo, ND, Patricia (Ross) Leaf Moorhead, MInn, Rita Leaf, Darlene (Doug) Geller, Lois (Keith) Leben all of St. Michaels ND. Godchildren Daniel Joseph Leben and Chelsey Lawrence, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Proceeded in death by his parents, children Jeffery and LeAnna LaCroix, brother Stanley LaCroix, sisters Joyce and Sharon LaCroix. Nephew Sonny Belgarde, Maternal Grandparents Alexander Yankton and Mary Waanatan, Paternal grandparents Louis and Jemima (LaBelle) LaCroix. Active pall bearers Dennis Corbine, Carlos Wadsworth, Darren Peltier, Darrel Lawrence, Curtis Black, and Alex Leben. Second Pall bearers: Brent and Barry Demarrias, Ryan, Mike, Steve, Matt Leaf, Scott, Randy, Danny Leben. Honorary pallbearers: Pastor Jeff Kapelle, Cowboy and Jeanette Lawrence, Pat and Wendy Lawrence, Blake and Cheryl Azure, Alma and John Good Iron, Josey and Clarice Lawrence, Danny and Diane Butts, Ted and Bernadine Nelson, Jr. Schemp, Jeff Schemp, Anna Fenner, Helen Beck, Glen Abraham, Waylon Smith, Butch Metlan, Clayton “Stubby” Dubois, Brian Sailor family, Mercer Family, Sullivan Family, Don Belgarde Family, Chris and Michelle Bustos, Kristi Black, Elaine Robinson, Jennifer Jensen, Whiteshield Family, Yankton Family, Beatrice Joramo Family, Rhea Crane, Darcy Longie, Ed Greywind Family, Phillip G. Longie Sr., Carl McKay, Kelly Brown, Darlene Wadsworth, Ann Wadsworth, Marty and Cleasa Anderson Family, Jerry and Nancy Robertson, Bud and Nita McKelvey, Jesse and Molly Butts, Former co-workers at Sioux Manufacturing and Dakota Tribal Industries, All family and friends, Joe had many friends and considered all he met in his earthly journey a friend. Sorry if we forgot anyone, it is not intentional, please forgive us at this difficult time. Joe will be greatly missed by all. He had a big heart and was a generous and kind man. He had great sense of humor and loved to spend time with family and friends laughing, joking and teasing. He found happiness in helping others and was always there to help others by lending a helping hand. Special thanks to the Spirit Lake Ambulance staff, Spirit Lake Tribe, and the doctors and nursing staff at Altru Hospital SCCU in Grand Forks, ND, Pastor Jeff Kapelle, Father Paul Schuster, and Father Edward Sherman for their prayers and spiritual support to the family. The Wake for Joseph will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael, ND beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Fr. Paul Schuster and Pastor Jeff Kapelle will officiate. The procession to St. Michael will leave on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. from the former Wal-Mart. Funeral Services for Joseph will be held on Thursday, January 29th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Michael, ND with burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery.