LAURA M. (LAFRANCE) ARMSTRONG

Laura M. Armstrong, 95 of Devils Lake formerly of Rolette, ND passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake with family at her side. Funeral Services for Laura will be held on Thursday, March 17, 2016 (St. Patrick’s Day) at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Lyle Belleque officiating. Laura will be laid to rest in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will continue on Thursday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Laura Marie was born in Maryville Township, Rolette County, ND to Wilfred and Marie (LeDoux) LaFrance on May 24, 1920. She attended a two-room country school in Maryville Township, where the teacher taught in French. Laura was united in marriage to Warren “Jim” Armstrong on September 1, 1937 at Thorne, ND. They lived and farmed in Maryville Township until retiring in 1980 when they moved to Rolette, ND. As good stewards of the land, in 1985 they were the recipients of the Rolette County Soil Conservation District Award. Since June of 1993, Laura has made Devils Lake her home. In earlier years, Laura and Jim enjoyed traveling; going to Alaska and wintering for several years in Arizona. Laura always had a large garden on the farm and was happy to share produce with family and friends. She never turned down a day of fishing and sharing a cup of coffee with friends and family always brought much joy. Laura is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law Dennis and Adele, Bismarck, ND, Gary and Helen, Fargo, ND and Duane and Pam, Devils Lake; daughter and son-in-law Linda and Gary Elfman, Warwick; eleven grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and great great great grandchildren; sister Albina Warp, Glendale, AZ; sister-in-law Marjorie LaFrance, Washington; brother-in-law Sayles Johnston, Rolla, ND and many nieces and nephews and their families. She was welcomed home by her parents; her husband Jim who died on October 16, 1995; brothers Eugene and Arthur LaFrance and sisters Emelda Schenck, Janette Avery, Rose Christianson and Evelyn Johnston. A very special thank you from Laura’s family to the staff of the Good Samaritan Center for their years of loving kindness and caring ways to Laura and to Altru Hospice in these last days for their help and support. God Bless You. Casket Bearers for Laura will be Brian Armstrong, Timothy Armstrong, Duane Armstrong Jr., Danny Gailfus, Mike DeMers and Casey Christofferson. Music will be congregational hymns with Jean Aardahl, accompanist.