KEITH "PETE" R. VILANDRE

Keith “Pete” R. Vilandre, 74 of Devils Lake formerly of Crary, ND passed away on Friday morning, May 20, 2011 at his home in the care of his family and Mercy Hospice. Mass of Christian Burial for Pete will be on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Dale Kinzler will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Pete will be his grandsons, Travis Koehn, Brandon Scharf, Troy Johnson, Jamie Johnson, Mikel Vilandre and Mason Vilandre. Music will be provided by Lynne Webster and JoDee Lagein. Reading the Scriptures will be Denise Vilandre Gift Bearers will be Monica and Bob Bryn. Keith was born on May 29, 1936 at Devils Lake, ND the son of Ray and Amy (Cole) Vilandre. He was reared and educated in Crary. For a number of years, he worked alongside his Dad as a carpenter. He later worked at the Westland Station in Devils Lake and in 1969 he began his career as a mechanic with the North Dakota State Highway Department. Keith was united in marriage to Lois Durbin on October 11, 1958 at Crary, ND. They established their home in Crary and in 1999 when Keith retired from the Highway Department, they moved to Devils Lake where they have since made their home. While living in Crary, Pete served on the Crary School Board for many years, the City Water Board and he was also part of the Crary Volunteer Fire Department. After moving to Devils Lake, he volunteered with the Senior Citizen Center delivering meals. Pete and Lois were active members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crary and after it closed they joined St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. After moving to Devils Lake, each year Pete would secure a garden plot from the Devils Lake Community Garden and he had so enjoyed planting and tending his garden each year. Pete is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lois; daughters Jeannie and her husband Bob Scharf of Covina, California and Laurie and her husband Dave Johnson of Williston, ND and son Brad Vilandre and his wife Denise of Wahpeton, ND; six grandsons Travis (Jennifer) Koehn and Brandon Scharf; Troy and Jamie Johnson; Mikel and Mason Vilandre; granddaughter Kayla Scharf; brother Donald “Butch” Vilandre and his wife Barb of Williston, ND; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Mary Lou Vilandre, Sitka, Alaska, Tess and Bill Haman, Devils Lake, Monica and Bob Bryn, Billings, Montana, Mike and Eileen Durbin, Devils Lake, Edy Lorenz, Lawton, ND; many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Pete was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers Dale, Richard, Frank and Elwood Vilandre.