Larse "Mato Mani" Azure

Mato Mani- Walking Bear, Larse W. Azure Jr. 18 of Spirit Lake Nation went to the Spirit World on Saturday, December 19, 2015. His nickname was Midnite. Mato Mani was born on May 11, 1997 in Devils Lake, ND to Georgalene DuBois and Larse Azure Sr. Mato was raised by his grandparents Daniel and Beryl DuBois and his mother. He was raised on the Spirit Lake Nation and attended Four Winds, where he played football and also Warwick School. He also attended Dakota Tipi School as a child and Portage Collegiate for a brief time of high school. Midnite just completed his high school diploma with a 3.5 GPA and received his welding certification at Burdick Job Corp in Minot, ND on December 15, 2015. He was in the process of enrolling for a liberal arts degree at CCCC on the Spirit Lake Nation. His next goal was to become a cop. Midnite loved playing basketball! He was planning on playing basketball with CCCC in the next semester. He joined a league basketball team. He played for Burdick Job Corp team, Warwick and Four Winds High School. He was also part of traveling teams. Mato Mani sundanced at Wiwawiyang Wacipi-John Chaske’s in Crow Hill. He was always with his friends just chilling! Always going visiting. So respectful, and nice to everyone and anyone! Very loving and huggable. Always asked, “I wonder what Grandpa cooked?” He loved his Grandpa’s cooking! Midnite was the “Selfie King” and we will miss receiving those many pictures of his precious face with his sweet smile each day. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his Ina-Georgalene DuBois; ahtay shena (stepdad) Michael Alex Sr.; unka and kunsina Daniel and Beryl DuBois; chiyaka misun (brothers) Dawson DuBois, Michael Alex Jr., Redstone Pratt; teksi (sisters) Verna Alex and Georgia Alex; dechi (uncles) Free DuBois, Nathaniel (Candice) DuBois, Calvin (Tiffany) DuBois, Daniel DuBois III, Sherman DuBois; 30 cousins; unchi (anties) Kimberly Chaske, Shannon Chalmers, Georgina Chaske, Donna, Laurie and Audrey Pratt; kunsi (great aunts) Maxine Chaske (Larry), Helen (Rod) Chaske; great grandparents Carose Sherman, Solomon Sherman, Stella Cavanaugh; god child Richard Brownshield Jr. Ate (father) Larse Azure Sr.; grandmother Brenda Robertson; brothers Weylin, Nathaniel and Joshua Azure and Michael Denne; step brother and sister Jesse and Jersey; uncles Justin (Joy) Azure and David (Robbie) Azure; anties Karissa Smith, Diana Azure and Evelyn Jackson; 19 cousins; kunsi (great aunts) Beverly LaBelle, Barbara Robertson, Mamie Dupree, Barbara, Marla (Dennis), Clara, Margo (Jeff), Rose (Robert) and Stacy (Ross); unka (great uncles) Blake (Cheryl) Azure and Rev. Wilbert (Judy) Robertson. Mato was preceded in death by his grandpa David Azure Sr.; great grandparents Morris and Dorothy Azure, Jerry and Elizabeth Robertson and George and Verna Chaske and Daniel Sr. and Mary DuBois; aunts Denise, Danelle and Deanna DuBois; uncle Kalum Yankton; good friend Hadley Smith. A Wake for Mato Mani will be held on Sunday, December 27, 2015 at the St. Michael Wellness Center, St. Michael, ND beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Time of Remembrance and Prayer at 8:00 p.m. The procession to St. Michael will leave at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday from the former Wal-Mart. The Funeral Service will be on Monday, December 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. also at St. Michael’s Wellness Center. Mato Mani will be laid to rest in the Azure Family Cemetery, rural St. Michael. All Drummers and Singers are welcome. Honorary Bearers will be all of Mato’s relatives, friends and Burdick Job Corp. Active Pallbearers will be Richard Brownshield, Cody Fox, J.W. Azure, Steve Cavanaugh, Shaquille DuBois, Beau Balenton, Bryson Robertson and Darwin ThreeIrons.