Robert (Bobby) Wayne Cournoyer, 68, of Marty

Wake services for Bobby are at the Wagner Armory in Wagner, SD on Sunday, January 26th; Monday, January 27th; and Tuesday, January 28th, 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 102 Church Drive, Marty, SD on Wednesday, January 29th at 10:00 a.m. Burial service is at the St. Paul Catholic Cemetery in Marty. A funeral reception will be held following at the Wagner National Guard Armory. Everyone is invited to join Bobby's family.

Robert (Bobby) Wayne Cournoyer was born on October 4, 1952, to Stephan Cournoyer Sr. and Pearl LeDeau Cournoyer in Wagner, SD. Bobby died on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Bobby graduated from St. Paul's Indian Mission, Marty, SD and attended several years at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. He married Adele Crow then Karen White Horse, who was his life partner for 35 years. Bobby was blessed with five children: Wesley "Buddy" Hare, Wagner, SD; Danielle Raymond, Camille Cournoyer and Robert Cournoyer Jr., Sioux Falls, SD; and Simone Cournoyer, Wagner, SD. He had 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren with one on the way.

Bobby was a Vietnam Era Veteran, Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging, and U.S. Army Medic. Bobby was a man who wore many hats. He was a cleric, farmer, tribal police officer, Marty Indian School Dining Room Manager and Marty Indian School dorm counselor. He worked at C&R Industries, Inc, Springfield, SD. He owned Cournoyer Construction. Bobby was a Yankton Sioux Tribe Housing Development Programs officer, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Housing, Yankton Sioux Tribal Vice Chairman (two terms), and Yankton Sioux Tribal Chairman (three terms).

Many of Bobby's accomplishments include being the Yankton Sioux Tribal Chairman when YST won the Supreme Court jurisdiction case; he helped acquire funding for New Hope Dialysis Unit and the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, CBOC, in Wagner, SD. Bobby served on the following boards as either president or member: NIGA (National Indian Gaming Association), NISBA (National Indian School Board Association), MIS (Marty Indian School Board), GPTCA (Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association, ATTA (Alliance of Tribal Tourism Advocates), the National Diabetes Association, and completed the program at the Blind Rehabilitation Center at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago, IL. Bobby helped obtain funding for the Boys & Girls Club. He was also the Tribal Chairman when the the Marty and Lake Andes gymnasiums were updated.

Bobby was a strong advocate for Tribal issues and voiced his beliefs. He would research and study the issues to be addressed. He was an eloquent writer and speaker. He spoke at the 2009 South Dakota Democratic Convention and addressed numerous Congressional hearings involving tribal affairs.

In his spare time, Bobby enjoyed gardening, traveling, visiting in person and on the phone. He loved spending time with everyone, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bobby enjoyed cooking out and sharing a meal. He enjoyed hunting, digging wild turnips, picking chokecherries, and morel mushrooms. He always knew where the sage and medicines were located.

Bobby was a warrior; he battled professionally and personally, especially with his health. He was hospitalized for a year in Sanford and the VA Hospital. He had many health issues, but he always fought back. He was the most kind and generous man who could make a sentence using only the "F" word. Bobby shared his humor and colorful jokes.

Bobby is survived by his wife Karen White Horse; his five children: Wesley "Buddy" Hare (Brandi Belgard) and their three children; Danielle Raymond and six children; Camille Cournoyer and her three children; Robert Cournoyer Jr. and his four children; and Simone Cournoyer (Anthony Almaguer) and her two children; two step-children: Ruby Stricker and her three children; Francis Stricker and four children; his siblings: Stephan II, twin Raymond Sr., Donald Sr., Thomas, Faith, Mark, Agnes, Gary, Sr., Jody, Vincent, Baptiste Sr., and Gerald Sr.

Bobby was preceded in death by: His father Stephan Cournoyer Sr., mother Pearl Cournoyer, and brother Gregory Cournoyer Sr.

Pallbearers for Bobby are: Denis Cournoyer, Ryan Cournoyer Sr., John Cournoyer, Gregory Cournoyer Jr., Jerome Jandreau, Thomas Morrow, Wesley Bruguier, Gerald Cournoyer Jr., and Justin Cournoyer.