James Foote Jr.

Parshall

James Dorron Foote, Jr, “Girishish” (Dancer), was born February 11, 1943, in Elbowoods to James Sr. and Elsie (Fredericks) Foote. He was a member of Low-Cap Clan and a child of Flint Knife Clan. Raised in the Lucky Mound area, he attended Elbowoods School through grade 6, part of the last sixth-grade class before the flooding. He then attended Catholic school in Stephan, South Dakota where he graduated. He was active in athletics and participated in track, basketball, and football; he had many fond memories of running the 440. He continued his education at Chilocco Junior College in Oklahoma studying masonry.

He returned to North Dakota and started his family. He was united in marriage to Junel Rabbithead on March 17, 1970. They made their home south of Parshall in the Lucky Mound area. Throughout the years, his job moved his family to Fort Yates, ND, McLaughlin, SD, Kyle SD and Fort Totten, ND. After retirement, they returned to their beloved Lucky Mound home. They shared 54 beautiful years of marriage and made many meaningful memories.

Jim worked with the CHR Program as a Coordinator and later became the Director which started his passion in the healthcare field. He wanted better health options and education for the people of the reservation. During this time, he received his degree in Health Administration in Vermillion, SD. Jim became the Service Unit Director for Indian Health Services in New Town.

He had a lifelong career in healthcare and retired after 20 years with the US Government. He was influential in starting programs and saw many new advances in medicine. He was instrumental in getting the first dialysis centers on Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and in McLaughlin, SD. For all his accomplishments and breakthroughs in the healthcare field, he received numerous awards for his outstanding achievements.

After Jim’s retirement from IHS, he was hired by Three Affiliated Tribes to oversee the building of Elbowoods Clinic in New Town. He helped secure the funding and saw the project through to completion, including the housing for the staff. During this time, he became good friends with ND leaders, Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad. He served on many area boards and was currently serving on the Parshall/Lucky Mound Community Board.

In his younger years, he was active in rodeos. Jim competed in bareback and bull riding. He qualified several times for the All-American Indian Athletic Association Rodeo excelling at several events. He was physically active throughout his life. Exercise and health were a lifelong goal he instilled in his family. He loved the outdoors and liked fishing and boating. He enjoyed the tranquility of the lake and sitting on his deck watching the boats go by. Jim and his wife liked walking the shorelines and collecting rocks.

Jim was very affectionate, generous, thoughtful, and kind. He was a devoted husband and a loving and supportive father. He treated his family with understanding and was always motivational and encouraging. He cherished his grandchildren who brought him a great amount of joy. He was always making sure everyone was okay. Jim impacted and touched many lives; he was very well-respected. Jim leaves behind a legacy of excellence. On August 18, 2024, surrounded by his loving family, James Dorron Foote Jr., at the age of 81, passed away at his home of natural causes. May God bless his memory among us.

Jim is survived by his wife, Junel Foote; daughters, Elsie Wilkinson (Louie) and Jenny Lattergrass, all of Parshall; grandchildren, Alexis, Jaren; Cassidy, Jeffrey, Jayson, Sidney, Cedar, and Jalyn; Skylar and Hallie; great-grandchildren, Jaxon, Liam, Remi; Lainey, Nakoa, Amaya, Kato; Emery, Hardin, and Jhett; brothers, Charles Foote (Ernestine) and Delvin Foote (Joey), both of Parshall; sisters, Yvonne Gunderson (Mac) of Black Hawk, SD and Kaye Driver of Shell Creek; and many extended family members.

He was preceded by his parents; son, Jason Dorron Foote; infant children, Julie, Juliene, and Jaron; brother, Adrian Foote, Sr.; sisters, Inez Baker, Delores Packineau, Vera Bracklin, and Shirley Myrick; son-in-law, Levi Lattergrass; and brother-in-law, Delvin Driver Sr.

A wake was held Wednesday, August 21, 2024, beginning at 5 p.m. at Red Bear NE Segment Multi-purpose Building, Parshall with the Rosary recitation at 7 p.m. His funeral: Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Bridget Catholic Church, Parshall. Jim was laid to rest at the Foote Family Cemetery, rural Parshall

(Langhans Funeral Home, Parshall www.langhansfuneralhome.com

Published by The Minot Daily News, August 26, 2024.