Francis Country, Jr. 65 years old, Sisseton, SD, died January 13, 2021 at Sanford Medical Center. He was born in Phoenix AZ, to Francis, Esther Country. Francis and Mary White-Country have been united for 43 years, through a Native American traditional wedding.
Personal attributes:
Late 70’s, Francis with his brother Jeff and Denise E, develop the band “Peyote Dream”. In 1977 Canyon Records recorded the famous 45 record “love Me or Leave Me” and 8 track tape: “Francis Country Jr, The Peyote Dream”. In 1984 a tribal elder asked Francis to talk and sing to the young people that were susceptible to suicide and/or substance abuse. Francis applied the Dakota spirituality and culture as his basis for work with youth and gave his program the name: Destiny. Destiny was invited to conferences and schools throughout the lower 48 states, plus Alaska and Canada. This continued well into the 1990’s, though he never earned more than his expense. In 2003 along with Mary, as a suggestion applied for the top native American art show in the country, Santa Fe Indian Art Market. Over the next 17 years along with Mary, as his collaborator, has won several top awards for his carved horse and Mary’s traditional dolls, which he was her collaborator.
Predeceased by both is parents, his brother, his son and a granddaughter.
Survivors: Wife, Mary of Sisseton, Daughters, Bobbie Country, Pierre, SD, Melissa Country, Sisseton. Grandsons: Christian, Daniel, Isiah, Zayden, Samuel, Tage, Phayd and Granddaughters: Fantasia, Tia, Alia, Shaylee and one great grandson Lowak Shaw.
Visitation: Family & friends are invited to meet at Dakota Connection to meet Chilson’s to follow up to Long Hollow. Due to COVID-19 there will be only visitation Tuesday, January 19, 2021 from 2pm – 5pm.
Services: funeral will be on January 20, 2021, starting at 10am visitation and will proceed to the gravesite for services and burial.
Officiate Funeral: Chief Arvol Looking Horse
Burial: Long Hollow Cemetery
Pallbearers: Tom DeCoteau, Guy Chanku, Wayne Lufkins, Christian Country, Daniel Country, Isiah Country, Samuel Crawford, and Delano Grant .
Mary, I am so sorry for your family’s loss. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs!!
My prayers and blessings for you all
My condolences to the family my heart and thoughts are with you ?
All our Love to Mary. Francis welcomed me into his family with open arms and was a very love and funny man. We will miss him.
So sorry for your loss.
Strength to you and your family, Mary. The obituary is evidence of your partnership and love for each other, and a celebration of his life work. Condolences.
Oh man I cannot belief you are gone JR. I WILL YOUR TEASING AND EMBARRASSING ME BIG TIME, I’m sorry for the family Mary you are my BFF and I am praying for you and you family. Tell Junior I said to say hello to my parents, Love you family, Jr will be missed
Mary, Shay, and Samuel, this is difficult to write. I will remember Francis always. His good natured teasing coupled with his exceptional spiritual experiences made our phone calls and visits so uniquely memorable. I know he carried burdens from years of serving his people, but he found so much satisfaction in ceremony and prayer. He bore the scars of a Sun Dancer, and was blessed for his service.
We have lost him from our world, but he is always with us from his.
I’m sorry I cannot be with you as we all greave his absence but I plan to join you when we honor his memory one year from now.