BONNIE J. (POITRA) LANG

Bonnie Jean Lang, 72 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Friday, October 2, 2015 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND in the loving presence of her dear family. Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake, ND with Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. After the Rosary service, please join the family for a gathering at Ruger Park, Devils Lake. Bonnie Jean, daughter of J. Patrick Poitra and Mary Margaret Baker was born on January 18, 1943 at Fort Totten, ND. She grew up and was educated in the St. Michael area, attending Little Flower School and later going to Flandreau, South Dakota. She was baptized at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with her godmother Irene Cavanaugh as a positive influence in her entire life. As a young woman, she moved out to Montana and worked at various jobs, but always in a position as a caregiver or as a “people person” where she could interact with people and always brighten their day. She worked as a caregiver for the handicapped, nursing assistant at a nursing home, cook, waitress and bus driver. In 1985, Bonnie moved back to North Dakota and began working at Sioux Manufacturing Corporation in Fort Totten. She retired from Dakota Tribal Industries after many years as a dedicated, hard working employee of the company. In 1988, Bonnie would meet the love of her life, Walter “Tubby” Lang and they were united in marriage on June 11, 1994 and together they combined their two families into one. Bonnie continued working, but her number one priority was always her family. In May of 1999, Bonnie proudly achieved receiving her GED at 56 years of age. Bonnie had many hobbies and pastimes which included crocheting, beading, embroidery, sewing, all kinds of different arts and craft projects, taking her puppy Shilo for rides, going to the Casino, playing BINGO, spending time with the love of her life, Tubby and time with family and friends. When spending a quiet night at home, Bonnie had quite an unusual combination of movies and TV shows she loved to watch. They included Dog, The Bounty Hunter, Little Women, Sci-Fi and scary movies, Golden Girls, Pink Cadillac and World Wrestling Entertainment. Lots of action and adventure for such a sweet, tiny thing like Bonnie. Our dear wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, relative and friend touched the lives and hearts of so many people who will always remember her kindness, friendship, her contagious laugh and her infectious smile. Beloved Bonnie, Mom, Grandma, Auntie, Cousin, we love you so much, you will be dearly missed. Bonnie is survived by her husband, Tubby; children Paul James (Melissa) Poitra Sr., Devils Lake, Pamela Ann (David) Birkenbuel, Great Falls, MT, Mary (Jim) Langley, Warwick, ND, Shawna (Stoney) Thronsedt, Roshana (Kris) Allred and Bryan (Roxanne) Lang all of Devils Lake, Brenda (Al) Joseph, Deer River, MN; grandchildren Kyle, Paul James Jr., Kannon, Ean, Bonnie Jean; Richard, Rebecca, Rachel, Kelsa; Michael, Jacob, Tanner, Taylor; Roshana, Heidi, Sam; Matthew Scott, Mitchell James (Morgan); Andrea, Samantha, Christina, Brendan; great grandchildren Ella, Kyle Jr., Tiarauna, Ava, Aiden, Paul James III, Raven, Isaiah; Dakota, Cody, Kyler, Chance, David Jr., Dylan; Adley, Zander; Paisley Jean, Kristopher Wayne Jr., Brinyana and Kire; godchildren Page Valas, Bonnie Jean Poitra, David Azure Sr., Samual Baker and Lulu Murphy; sisters-in-law Rosemary Wee, Patricia Wee, Karen Anne Lang and Linda Abrahamson; special cousin, who she called brother, Jim Baker; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Margaret “Peggy” Baker and J. Patrick Poitra; grandparents Paul and Cyphrine Baker; great grandson Noah Mathias Poitra; mother-in-law Alvina Lang; special nephew Shane Christianson; baby puppy dog, Shilo; brothers-in-law, Donald Lang, Gerald Lang, Frank Lang and Richard “Butch” Lang; uncles and aunts Paul, Joe, Francis and David Baker, Alvina Baker, Rose Snodgrass, Veronica Erickson, Jo Baker, Cisco Baker, Josephine Black, Dorothy Azure, Marie Baker, several in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. Honorary Bearers will be Jim Baker and family, Ruthanne Baker, Ephriam Hill family, Corey and Michelle Baker, Cookie and Leo Delorme, Azure family, Carol Black, Joe Herman, Belinda Murphy, Debbie Cavanaugh, Rosemary Wee, Linda Abrahamson, Patricia Wee and all, Curtis Black and family, Chad Christianson, Natalie Christianson and Katie Christianson and family. All the caring staff from Mercy Hospital and Altru Hospital and a special thanks to Nurse Darin at Altru Hospital and all of her other family and friends. If we forgot anyone, please forgive us, it was not intentional. Casket Bearers for Bonnie will be Paul James Poitra, Bryan Lang, Richard Shuler, Kris Allred, Stoney Thronsedt and Samual Baker. Reading the Scriptures will be Jim Lang and David Birkenbuel and Gift Bearers are Heidi Jo Parisien, Bonnie Jean Poitra and Kelsa Maye Birkenbuel. Music will be provided by JoDee Lagein and Lynne Webster.