Wilbur Joseph (Joe) Stratton was born on November 22, 1930 at his Overman grandparents’ farm near Crookston, Nebraska. Joe was the second son of seven children - six boys and one girl - born to Bill and Josie (Overman) Stratton.

Joe grew up near Wanblee, South Dakota and graduated from high school in Kadoka in 1950. After high school, Joe worked for area ranchers before entering the United States Army in 1952, where he deployed to Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1954 but remained in the Army Reserves until 1960.

Joe was united in marriage to Betty Lou Allen on June 9, 1956. Joe and Betty Lou moved to Billings, Montana after Joe got a job at Firestone Tire while they were on their honeymoon. Two of their three children, Cynde and Dick, were born while they lived in Montana. The couple returned home to South Dakota in July, 1958. In Kadoka, Joe was employed at the grain elevator and as the water superintendent before he started driving truck in various positions, including the U.S. Mail truck. In retirement, Joe and Betty Lou owned several rental houses in Kadoka; he was a handyman who could fix or build almost anything.

Joe was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He had a lifetime membership to American Legion Post 27; he belonged to the VFW in Rapid City and he was a founding member of the Kadoka Lions’ Club. Joe was a talented wood worker - he both built and refinished furniture. Joe donated his wood working skills to several local projects, including building the concession stand at the Kadoka rodeo grounds and assisting with a Habitat for Humanity house in Pierre with the Lions’ Club. He also collected rare coins. Joe was a patriotic American and staunch conservative. He immensely enjoyed keeping up with current political events and discussing them with family and the coffee group at the local café, where he was a regular customer. Joe was also a fierce competitor at card games with family during holiday gatherings or weekends at the cabin; he was the score keeper and he usually won.

Joe passed away on July 3, 2017 at the Avera Maryhouse Hospice facility in Pierre surrounded by his family, who had been constantly at his bedside for the week he was in hospice care.

Joe is survived by Betty Lou, his wife of 61 years; daughters Cynde (Dennis) Stoakes of Hartford and Rose Ann (Greg) Wendell of Pierre and son, Dick (Phyllis) Stratton of Hartford; granddaughter Anna Stoakes-Wong (Nathan Wong) of Valley Springs and grandson Preston Stoakes of El Paso, Texas and five step-grandchildren; sister Elaine Staben of Bozeman, Montana and brothers Stanley Stratton of Waverly, Kansas and Gary (Janet) Stratton of Great Bend, Kansas; and a sister-in-law Jean Stratton of Loveland, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Jim, Jay and John (Jack).

Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 7, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, with Pastor Gus Craven and Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.

Military graveside services will be held at the Kadoka Cemetery.

Cards and memorial may be sent to P.O. Box 265, Kadoka, SD 57543