Milton LaClair 1924-2016
Milton Leroy LaClair, “Nosh nesh‚” 92, Mayetta, died Sunday, July 10, 2016 in Holton.
He was born June 14, 1924, on the Potawatomi Reservation west of Mayetta, the son of William S. and Mary Lasley LaClair. He graduated from Marty Indian School in South Dakota in 1941 and later from Clarks School of Business.
Mr. LaClair served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was part of the second wave of soldiers that stormed Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and many other decorations.
He was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and lived most of his life on the reservation. He lived in Topeka for 20 years and had also lived several years in Denver, Washington state and in Oregon.
He worked as a consultant for the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. He had also managed the PBPN Administrative Office in Holton for several years. After retirement, he served as chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Gaming Commission.
He was a member of Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church.
He married Alvina Wamego. They divorced. He married Rose Marie Banks on Sept. 23, 1983, in Topeka. She survives.
Other survivors include a son, Franklin C. LaClair and wife Barbara, Topeka; two daughters, Sara Gartenmayer and Shirley Trull and husband Paul, all of Mayetta; a sister, Arlene Lingo, Mayetta; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two children, James Dean LaClair and Marlene LaClair; four siblings, Leoma, Winifred, Melvin and William; and a granddaughter, Helen.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mayetta. Interment will follow in Shipshee Cemetery. Mr. LaClair will lie in state at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, where a rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Thursday. Family will greet friends following the rosary.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.
