Lawrence "Sandy" Gotchie

Jody Hane2021-08-01T13:18:56-05:00

Name: Lawrence "Sandy" Gotchie
Location of Birth: Ball Club, Minnesota
Date of Birth: December 25, 1925
Date of Death: October 24, 2010 (84 years old)
Parents: Andrew and Mary Gotchie
High School and Class: 1943 - Flandreau High School, Flandreau, South Dakota
College:
Highest Rank:
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: 1943
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: 1945
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
Sandy served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945, when he was honorably discharged.

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Sandy was one of ten children.

He was married to Nellie Howard on March 6, 1965. They had ten children and raised numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was a member of VFW Post 2720.

Sandy worked in the woods, logging for Red and Dale Grife for years. Later he worked as a laborer for the pipeline in Alaska, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Minnesota until retirement.

Sandy loved trapping, hunting, ricing, and picking berries throughout his lifetime. After retirement, he stayed busy going to Pow-wows and fishing, which was his life-long job.

Sandy was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Mary Gotchie; sisters, Martha, Frances, Adeline, Leona "Dolly", Veronica and Mary; brothers, Johnny, Joe, Charles, and Leo; sons, Andrew "Smoke" and William; and grandsons, Shane, Donald, Jr., and Terrell.

He is survived by his wife, Nellie Gotchie; sister, Lucille White; children, Lawrence, Jr. (Debbie), Edward, Rose, Robert, Donald (Sheila), Donna, Mary Jo (Marvin), Steven (Becky), and Emilie; special daughters-in-law Linda Guddendorf, Candice Gotchie, and Miriam Hanson; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Sandy died in Ball Club and burial was in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery at Ball Club. No photo of grave marker is available at this time.

Tribal Affiliation(s): Ojibwe