Kenneth Louis "Butch" Gourd

Kenneth L. “Butch” Gourd, Wamnuha Duta (Red Gourd), 70 of St. Michael, ND died on Sunday morning, February 8, 2009 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. A Wake Service will be held on Monday, February 16, 2009 at St. Michael’s Recreation Center, St. Michael beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer Service at 8:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial for Butch will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Brian Moen celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in the Anderson Family Cemetery, rural St. Michael. The Procession to St. Michael’s Recreation Center will leave at 4:00 p.m. on Monday from the Wal-Mart Parking Lot. Serving as Casket Bearers for Butch will be Greg DeMarrias, Norman DeMarrias, Garry DeMarrias, Matthew DeMarrias, Darrick Ami and Avery Thompson Jr. Honorary Bearers are Aloysius Cloud, Delbert Cloud, Paul Stensland, Sandra Miller, Adrian Thomas, Jane Lamrose, Phillip “Skip” Longie, Vern Lambert Sr., Verol Greywater, Martin Blueshield, Delores Lohnes, Dewey Blackbird, Isaac Mallard, Keith Leben, Vincent Greyhorn Sr. and Butch Kazena. Kenneth Louis Gourd was born on June 3, 1938 at Fort Totten, ND the son of Jacob and Melvina (Littlewind) Gourd. He was raised and educated on the Spirit Lake Nation, attending elementary school at Calvary Square and Fort Totten Community High School. While in high school, Butch played basketball and was part of the team that advanced to the State Class C Tournaments twice in his basketball career. After high school, he attended Haskell Indian College in Kansas and received his masonry certificate. This is where Kenneth met and married his first wife, Pauline WhiteKiller and they had four children, Kim, Kenneth, Russell and LaLana. They established their home in Kansas City, Kansas and Butch worked as a mason in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Minnesota. Around 1974, Butch moved back to North Dakota to the Tokio area. Butch became the owner and operator of Gourd Construction and was involved in many construction projects but was very honored to be the contractor for the Fort Totten Mini Mall and also the Veterans Memorial in Fort Totten. Butch also served on the TERO Board for six years. Butch had many talents and was a champion pool player. Butch was proud to be a part of the Spirit Lake Nation and loved to be out in the community visiting with his many dear friends and enjoying every opportunity to spend time with his dear family. His sense of humor was notable and he was always quite the jokester to his family and friends. Butch will be forever loved and missed and we will hold his memory in our heart forever. Butch is survived by his loving family: His children, Kenneth Louis Gourd, Jr., Russell Bruce Gourd, LaLana Ruth Spears, Jake Redfox, Kyle Redfox, Tyson Redfox, Ashley Redfox, Kara Longie and Amber Gourd. Twenty Five Grandchildren and One Great Grandchild. Sisters: Marlene Anderson and Judy Ami Many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Melvina; sons, Kerry Leon Olmsheid and Cameron Feather; daughters, Kimberly Starr French and Klo Redfox; brother, Gary Gourd; niece, Valerie Merrick; nephews, Loren Gourd and Marvin Anderson Jr.; great nephew, Joe Peterson; brother-in-law, Marvin Anderson Sr. and very special friends, Miriam “CoCo” Redfox and Angie Olmsheid.