Service Information
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Visitation Information
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Roger “Big RJ” Sylvan Bissonette, Jr. on Friday, July 27, 2018 had gone home to be with the Lord at the age of 45. RJ was born in the town of Webster, South Dakota on June 1, 1973. He is the son of Loretta (Kampeska) and Roger Bissonette, Sr.
RJ loved to go horseback riding and breaking horses. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting with his family and friends and watching his sons play in baseball and basketball. He loved to make people laugh; he was known for his sense of humor and his big heart. But most of all RJ loved to spend time with his loving wife and their children and grandchildren.
RJ had many talents such as playing the drums, bass guitar and singing gospel at revivals and camp meetings.
RJ attended Solen High School in Solen, North Dakota. In his younger years he worked as a livestock laborer in Gering, Nebraska. In 1990-1992, at the age of 16, RJ was working with a sugar beets factory on Scottsbluff, Nebraska. At 17 he was a foreman and moved to Solen, North Dakota. In 1993 RJ started work as a mechanic at Cenex in Bismarck, North Dakota, later the next year he worked as a heavy equipment operator. He became a prep cook at Bistro in 1996.
In 2001 he met his best friend who later became his wife, Francine Follet-Bissonette. On May 4, 2002 RJ and Francine tied the knot and to this union they had 5 kids together, Abelene (23), Hezekiah (18), Roger III (16), Christian (13) and Sebastian (10). They later moved to Watertown, South Dakota and they lived there for 7 years. RJ started work there, as he called it on Facebook, the “Head Chef”. In 2012 they moved back to Wolf Point, MT.
RJ is survived by his wife Francine Follet-Bissonette of 16 years and their children; Amiera Brown Otter, Abelene (Ron), Hezekiah, Roger III, Christian and Sebastian; grandchildren Zachariah, Kara, Aaron and one on the way; mother Loretta Bissonette; father Roger Bissonette, Sr.; sisters Tammy, Cheryl, and Bonnie; brothers Roy, Roger, Rapheal, Ronnie and Ricky; other relatives and friends.
RJ was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Eddy and Angeline Bissonette; sister Mercedes Bissonette; cousin Richard Bissonette; uncle Seth Bissonette; maternal grandparents Lena Hayes, Ed Seaboy; uncle Jake Keeble and nephew Michael One Horn.
RJ was the kind of person who could light up someone’s day by the things he said and the jokes he would tell. And no matter what kind of mood you were in, he would have you laughing by the time you were done visiting with him. He was loved by many that knew him and he will be greatly missed by us all.
We love you RJ.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 6 at 10:00 AM at the Porcupine Prayer House in Porcupine, SD. Pastor Billy QuJas and Pastor Larry Little Owl Sr. will officiate. Interment at House of Jacob Cemetery in Wolf Creek, SD.
The first all-night wake will be held Friday, August 3, 2018 beginning at 7 PM at the Enemy Swim Community Center in Enemy Swim, SD. Pastor Vernon Darnell will officiate.
Further all-night wakes will be held on Saturday, August 4th and Sunday, August 5th beginning at 7 PM both nights at the Porcupine Prayer House in Porcupine, SD.
Honorary casket bearers are all his family relatives and friends.
Casket bearers at Enemy Swim are Brian Wilson, Jaime Birney, Les Barse Jr., Eddie Bissonette, Curtis Bissonette, Jesse Anderson, Brooks Roberts, Eugene Bissonette, Travis Herrick and Vern Red Owl. Casket bearers at Porcupine are Mark New Holy, Roger Bissonette III, Hezekiah Follet, Franklin Jefferson, Ronnie Bissonette, Ricky Bissonette, Steven One Horn, Christian Bissonette, Arlin Mesteth, Tindo Gull and Matthew American Horse.