Joseph Agard

Funeral services for Joseph Agard, 63, of McLaughlin, will be Monday, June 4th at 11:00AM, CDT, at the McLaughlin Blue Gym. Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, Bullhead. A procession will leave Stout Family Funeral Home in Mobridge Sunday at 5:00PM to go to the McLaughlin Blue Gym for services beginning at 7:00PM. Joe entered the spirit world May 28, 2012 at Mobridge Regional Hospital. www.stoutfamilyfh.com Joseph Louis Agard, was born June 19, 1948 to Marie Brave Crow and Cyril Agard. His Indian name is Wapa ha Wi Ca Ki which means Takes The War Bonnet. It was given to him by his grandfather, James Takes The Hat, father of Joe's mother, Marie Takes The Hat Brave Crow. It was his Indian name, but passed it on to his grandson, Joe, to carry on. He was born and raised in Bullhead, South Dakota, and attended Bullhead Day School until 6th grade. From 7th through 12th grade, he went to McIntosh Public School in McIntosh, South Dakota Joe loved sports and was very athletic. He played in all sports, including basketball, football, baseball and track for McIntosh High School. He loved to ride his black and white paint horse named Splash. Throughout his high school years, Joe played Independent Basketball for the Bullhead Braves. They traveled all over Indian Country and won many tournaments. He played baseball for the Bullhead A's and traveled around to many locales. Joe also played American Legion Baseball for Barney Brought American Legion Post #82 and the McIntosh American Legion Post. Their team qualified to play in the state tournaments several times. Joe was very smart and intelligent. He was a straight A student and an honor student all 4 years of high school. He graduated from McIntosh High School May 27, 1966. It was in 1966 that he met the Mormon Missionaries; they told him about Brigham Young University and the many opportunities that it afforded. Joe applied to Brigham Young, but instead was drafted into the Vietnam War. Joe entered the U.S. Army and re-enlisted for another 2 years. He received 2 honorable discharges from the army and was awarded the National Service Medal. After his discharge, he came home and started college at United Tribes Technical College. He also worked for the college for 3 years as the Post Master and in payroll with the finance department. Joe came home to Standing Rock after college and started working for the tribal finance office, a job he kept for 19 years. He was currently working for M.R. & I., and had been with them for 18 years. Joe was a member of the Brought-Village Center, Brown Otter American Legion Post #82 for many years and was a lifetime member of the DAV (Disabled American Veteran's). Joe enjoyed gatherings, pow-wows, feeds and doing things with family and friends. He would always make people laugh, but he never had a smile on his face. He was very serious, but was always helpful to family & friends when in need. He will be greatly missed by his sons, Joseph "Cubby" & Philo Agard and Joe "JJ" Ramsey all of Ft. Yates, ND; grandchildren, Brianna & Philo, Jr. Agard; sisters, Geraldine Agard, Mabel Medicine Crow, Gale & Etta Brave Crow, Kathy Antelope, Kathy Kuzior & Lucia Hairy Chin all of McLaughlin; brothers, Dale Brave Crow & Sasa Nickolic, McLaughlin, Richard (Cynthia) Fiddler, Ft. Yates & James Parisien, Mobridge; aunts, Julianne End of Horn, Ft. Yates, Ramona Hopkins, Hillsboro, OR, Clarice Miner, Eagle Butte, Lavina Three Legs, Wakpala and the Left Hand sisters, Kenel; uncles, Martin "Mayo" Hat , San Mateo, CA, Clayton Left Hand, Kenel and Everette Iron Eyes, Sr., Ft. Yates. Joe was preceded in death by his father, Cyril Agard; step-father, Steven Brave Crow; mother, Marie Brave Crow; son, Cyril "Snapper" Agard; maternal grandplarents, James & Annie (Catch The Bear) Takes the Hat; aunts, Mabel, Mamie, Margie, Martha & Melda; uncles, Michael Cross Bear, Dennis & Max Takes The Hat; sisters, Alvina Grey Bear, Bernadine Goudreau, Evelyn Claymore, Pauline & Margie Brave Crow; brothers, Gerald "Soup" Agard, Jimmy, Whitney, Lyle and Freddy Agard; grandchild, Kryianna Agard; nephew, Jon "Corey Jack" Taken Alive and several other nephews, nieces and cousins have entered the spirit world.