Joseph Ernest Jeannotte (December 25, 1902
The son of Aime Jeannotte and Delia Cote, Jeannotte was educated in Saskatchewan, and worked as a rancher before entering political life. In 1941, he married Annette Burelle. They raised three daughters, Janet, Dolores, and Irene, in Meadow Portage, Manitoba.
Joseph befriended novelist Gabrielle Roy during her sojourn near his home and was depicted in the novel Where Nests the Waterhen as Monsieur Bessette.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1958 provincial election, defeating Liberal-Progressive incumbent Roy Brown,