Mildred "Millie" "Sis" Thibedeau

Mildred “Millie” “Sis” M. Thibedeau, 86 of Devils Lake, ND died on Saturday morning, April 14, 2007 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. The Funeral Service for Millie will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Harold Ovre will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Millie will be Kenneth “Bernie” Shaver, J.C. “Tyke” Shaver, Bruce Shaver, Calvin Shaver, Richie West, Mathew Helm, Emily Kneiser and George Kneiser. Music will be provided by Sharon Shaver, soloist and Lynda Pearson, organist Mildred Marjorie Shaver was born on March 24, 1921 in Esmond, ND to Charles and Sophie (Sabbe) Shaver. She attended schools in Iowa, Minnewaukan, McClusky and Devils Lake. She went to Long Beach, California in 1941 where she worked in a wholesale sandwich shop and delivered sandwiches to the Union Depot in Los Angeles and various manufacturing plants and other businesses in the area. Millie married Robert West on August 9, 1942 in California. She returned to North Dakota in 1946 and worked at the Lakeside Café and Schwan Wholesale. On October 27, 1950, Millie was united in marriage to Howard Thibedeau. They established their home in Lakewood. Howard died on April 17, 1967. Millie then attended Lake Region State College and in 1969 began a 16 year career with the BIA at Fort Totten working in the Social Services Department and then 4 years with the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe (now Spirit Lake Tribe) also in the Social Services Department. Millie was a very active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, serving on the Parish Education Board, the Altar Guild, WELCA and Faith and Care Circles. She was also first call on the Prayer Chain for many years. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, Rebekahs, Lakewood Homemakers Club (now the birthday club) and a permanent member of the Women’s International Bowling Congress and the Lake Region Women’s Bowling Association, where she served as Treasurer for nineteen years. She served as President of the Senior Bowling League for 18 years. Millie was inducted into the local Bowling Hall of Fame in 1989. Millie loved spending time with her loving family, dear friends and precious bowling buddies. She enjoyed sewing, fishing, watching hockey, baseball and football and especially cooking for others. She also enjoyed her many travels, including Alaska, California, Ohio, Colorado, Cape Cod and Wisconsin. Millie was a loving, prayerful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend to many. She will be greatly missed. Millie is survived by her children: Bob West and his wife, Loma of Clarksville, Ohio Twins, Juel Thibedeau and his wife, Dana of Lompoc, California Patti Kneiser and her husband, Rick of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Brother: Ken Shaver of Devils Lake Grandchildren: Richie West of Grand Forks, ND Mathew Helm of Hazen, ND Emily Kneiser and George Kneiser of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Step Grandchildren: Wayne (Temple) Hoskins of Sabina, Ohio Peggy Moler also of Sabina Six Step Great Grandchildren Several Nieces and Nephews and their families Brother-In-Law: Richard Thibedeau of Hawaii Sisters-In-Law: Lydia Depew of Burbank, California Fran Shaver of West Chester, Pennsylvania She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; parents; step-mother of 63 years, Clara Vennes Shaver; brothers, Glenn, Gordon “Bud” and Wendell Shaver; an infant sister; sisters-in-law, Emma Shaver, Rosemary Shaver and Maren “June” Shaver; brother-in-law, Juel Thibedeau and twin infant half-brothers, Charles and Carol Shaver. Memorials may be directed to St. Olaf Lutheran Church or Lake Region Relay For Life, P.O. Box 160, Devils Lake, ND.