ROBERT A MONETTE

Robert (Bob) A. Monette passed away peacefully, surrounded by his ever loving and grateful family, on Friday September 5th, 2014, at the Devils Lake Good Samaritan Center. The wake for Bob will be held Monday, September 8th, at 7pm at the Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., on Tuesday, September 9th, 2014, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Fr. Kraemer as celebrant. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Devils Lake. Casket bearers will be Dr. Tim Peterson, Dr. James Levine, and Bob’s grandsons: Kai Baukol, Jade Fertig, Parker Monette, Tristan Barrows and Jack Peterson. Honorary pallbearers are Clarence Frederick, Joe and Delimma Baker family, and all members of Bob’s extended family. The Drum group will be provided by Cody St. Clair of Belcourt. Military honors will be provided by the Lilley-Dionne American Legion Post, Belcourt, ND. Robert Alphonse Monette was born January 23, 1939, to Helen (Davis) and Frank A. Monette, at Belcourt, N.D. Unfortunately, Bob lost his mother at age 3. His father married Emma (Davis) Monette in 1943. Emma raised Robert, who lovingly and graciously was, “Ma”, thereafter. He grew up on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, attending school at St Ann’s Mission School and graduating from, St. Paul High School at Marty, S.D., in 1958. Immediately following, he enlisted with the U.S. Army. He was a proud member of the 101st Airborne Division, or the, “Screaming Eagles”. He was Honorably Discharged in 1962. Bob married Marie Lenoir, the mother of his children Paulette, Craig, and Tiffani, in Belcourt in 1963. Although this union did end, Bob and Marie maintained a life-long friendship until her death in 1991. He was always grateful that Marie was a wonderful mother to their children, as well as being the mother to Danyell (Dornheim) Johnson, whom he always embraced as family . Bob married Joanne Allery, the mother of Jacquelyn, Aaron, Jeffrey, Jessica and Sarah, in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. They lived for periods of time in Coon Rapids/Twin Cities area, Grand Forks N.D, and Fargo N.D., before settling and establishing their home in Devils Lake. Bob’s number one priority in life was to take care of his family. He was a hard-working man, working primarily as a laborer in the construction trade. He has worked for Boeing (Seattle, W.A.), Strata Concrete (Devils Lake), Brunswick Company., and Sioux Manufacturing, (Fort Totten, N.D) Despite his constant workload, Bob put in every possible effort to make it to practically every one of his children’s and grandchildren’s events, no matter when or where; and even in the heights of illness, he would never forget birthdays or other celebrations. At every turn or chance, he would go out of his way to make sure his huge family was loved, and we will be forever thankful and grateful for his effort and love. With family being first, his close second love was for music, loving to sing and play guitar throughout his life, at any opportunity for family, friends, and all who would and could listen. He especially enjoyed, “Waylon, Willie, and the boys,” as well as any early country, blue grass, and fiddle music. Last, but certainly worth mentioning, he was a die-hard Vikings and Twins fan—maybe this year, Dad! In 1989, the onset of Bob’s life-long struggle with his health began, most significantly with his heart, as well as his three-time battle with cancer, the fourth bout with cancer would be what would become his last. He was considered essentially a “Medical Miracle” by those who had assisted him through the times he fought with cancer along the way, particularly his teams at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks. His family is deeply thankful to these teams and for the privilege of getting to know them over the years when they provided the greatest quality of care Bob could possibly hope for—a humble “thank you” from him, as he is now at peace with this fight. Bob was a kind, generous, and humorous man. He loved to crack jokes and one-liners to everyone he talked to, often at times of his unique choosing. He will be forever beloved and remembered by those he touched, whether by his quick wit, compassion, wisdom, and all of the many other wonderful gifts he provided to this world. He will be deeply loved and missed. Bob is survived by his wife Joanne, his eight children and eleven grandchildren, Paulette Monette Baukol (Kourtnee, Kai), Craig and Paula Monette (Jade Fertig, Jordan, Parker), Tiffani and Dr. Tim Peterson (Gabrielle Barrows, Tristan Barrows, Avery, Jack), Jacquelyn Meier (Amanda and Briana), Aaron, Jeffrey, Jessica, and Sarah Monette. Brothers William (Bill) and Charlotte Monette, Vernon and Karen Monette, adopted brother Lyle and Iris Parisien. Sisters Carol Ann and Lynn Davis, Theresa and Ronald Poitra, Janice and Allen Schlenvogt, Norma and Terry Poitra and a large extended family, including nephews, great nephews, nieces and great nieces, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, son-baby boy Monette, his brother Bryan Parisien, and a nephew, Michael Lynn Parisien.