Funeral Service for Franklin D. Robertson, Unajinpi, "Makes him stand", 77, of Sisseton, SD will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Kateri Hall, Sisseton, SD with John Cloud III officiating. Special music will be provided by Billy Kohl, with burial at Sisseton Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mason Martin, Marshall Martin, Sheldon Martin, Melvin Robertson, Leon Gonsalves and Kevin Lafontaine Sr. Honorary Pallbearers will be All Vietnam Vets, and All the Tiospa Zina Basketball players Past and Present. There will be an all night wake starting at 7:00 P.M. at St Kateri Hall on November 24, 2020. Military rights provided by the Kit Fox Society. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of funeral arrangements. Mask and social distancing are required.

Franklin D. Robertson was born on May 31, 1943 in Veblen, SD to Melvin Robertson Sr. and Mamie Wanna Robertson. Franklin attended school in Veblen and the Bishop Hare School on the Rosebud Reservation. He received his GED and moved to California to work, later he chose to join the Army. Franklin was a commander of the Sisseton Wahpeton Vietnam Veterans Association from the late 80's till 2000, now called the Kit Fox Society.

Franklin was a sheet metal worker working in Brookings, Watertown, Sioux Falls, Mitchell and Minneapolis. He was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers National Association. He also was the Cafe Manager at the Sisseton Wahpeton Community College.   Franklin met the love of his life, Kathy Goodsell in 1981, from this union their daughter Renee was born in 1984. Franklin was on many boards of the Tribe, also he was Veblen district treasurer, and he was on Tribal council from 1989 until 1992. Franklin retired in the mid 90's due to medical reasons. He stayed home and took care of his daughter. He loved to travel all over to Pow-wows, many times with veterans; he even went to DC for the first repatriation as Commander of the Vets along with other tribal members to bring relatives remains home. Franklin adored doing many things with family, traveling with his wife and daughter to Mall of America, going to the Minnesota State Fair and enjoying all the Fair food. He also enjoyed going to Valley Fair, listening to music, watching fireworks with his grandkids or being with them anytime he could, he loved being a Papa! He enjoyed going out to eat, especially having a good steak. Franklin also liked mowing lawn, reading books, crossword puzzles, cooking for Pow-wows, sitting on his deck, eating cherries and drinking diet Pepsi. He took delight in drinking coffee and watching birds, playing poker with his brothers and nephews at his brother Gilbert's place. He cherished seeing his grandchildren and playing with them. He enjoyed watching his granddaughters play volleyball and basketball for the Redman. Franklin also attended all basketball games at TZ.

Franklin is survived by his wife, Kathy of Sisseton, their daughter, Renee, also survived by children, Frank Robertson of Grove City, OH, Devlin Robertson of Brookings, SD, Justin German of Sisseton, SD and Dionne German of Eagle Butte, SD, and nine grandchildren, siblings Wallace Robertson of Olympia, WA, Melvin Robertson of Sisseton, Kevin Lafontaine Sr. of Peever, Mike Lafontaine of Sisseton, Brenda Jones, Sisseton, Jody Lafontaine of Sisseton, Terri Torgerson of Sisseton, Charlene Lafontaine of Old Agency, and Marsha Lafontaine of Sisseton.

Franklin was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Mamie, maternal grandparents James and Nora (Greely) Wanna, Jane and Charles Robertson and 3 brothers Adam, Charles "Bitzy", and Gilbert Robertson.