PERRY PICOTTE

Funeral Mass for Perry P. Picotte, 65, was held Friday, June 14, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Marty. Perry died Saturday, June 8, 2024 at the Lake Andes Senior Living Center in Lake Andes. Funeral Mass Burial was in St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery in Marty. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

Perry Prescott Picotte was born December 11, 1958, delivered at home assisted with delivery was his father Harold Picotte and Louise Kelly Picotte. His dad always bragged about this. Perry grew up in his early years at Marty and numerous places. Finally at Rosebud to young adulthood. He was a very mischievous, sensitive, strong, smart and handsome young man. He didn’t have an easy life, but he made it an awesome journey through it all. Independent free spirited.

Perry wanted to see many places of the world so he hitched hiked all across America. By thumb, car, train or plane. He loved the apple orchards in Washington State and the mountains of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. He liked the freedom to roam. He hitched a train all the way to the East Coast also to Texas to see his sisters. Amazing his endurance of bravery to just go with that he could carry.

What an awesome man. He worked in construction as a laborer on the crew that helped build the big Wagner School. Landscaped up in Milwaukee, WI. Freelance artist, awesome, talented with pure pencil drawing and sketches. He had a love for reading. Chess Champion.

Perry’s education started at Marty, Wagner, Gregory, Lake Andes, Rosebud and finally finished his education at St. Francis Mission. He was strong minded, body and spirit.

One of the life’s events was he learned a lot of the Lakota/ Dakota traditions. The Chips Family was a hunka family to him. He Sundance with that tiospaye, until he could no longer stand. Due to a horrible car wreck in 1980 (he was blessed to survive). His religion was so important to his strong spirited balance. He was loved so much by his siblings, but number one was his mother.

He was married to Marie Beston and they had two boys Cask’e and Gerald. Other children before his marriage which he was so proud of but unfortunately didn’t raise, were Wayne Kenny, Robin Left Hand Bull and baby girl who passed at birth.

Unfortunately, due to the condition of his previous injury, he was always in chronic pain and it continued to deteriorate his body. So his last home was at the Lake Andes Nursing Home from 2021 until June 8, 2024. Sister Pat visited him once a week and he would receive communion. His life was good. He left too soon. We will always miss him and never forget Perry (Broom) his Sicangu uncles gave him that name.