Robert "Bob" Clinton LaFrance

Robert (Bob) Clinton LaFrance, 74, of Devils Lake, ND died on January 20, 2009 at Heartland Care Center in the loving care of his family and Mercy Hospice after a battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 26th at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Devils Lake. Visitation will be Sunday, January 25th from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home and 1 hour prior to funeral services at the church with interment in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Rob Peterson, Steve Buchmeier, Tom Dion, Kevin Kraft, Todd Lagasse and Dwaine Schlieve. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Devils Lake Public School Bus Drivers and the Fort Totten Trail Riders. Music will be provided by Donovan Foughty, soloist and Lynda Pearson, organist Robert was born April 8, 1934 at Rolette, ND the son of Clinton and Althea (Johnston) LaFrance. He was raised on a farm near Perth, ND and graduated from high school there in 1952. After attending Minot State College he began his teaching career. He married Angela Hannegrefs on August 3, 1954 in Minot. They taught in elementary schools at Mylo, Minto School District near Wales, Denbigh, Noonan Township and Devils Lake Public Schools. They raised three children during these years. He married Teresa Tande in October 1980, in Scobey, MT. After retiring from teaching he continued to substitute teach and also drive bus for Devils Lake Schools. He was a member of NEA, NDEA, DLEA, the Elks and Fort Totten Trail Riders. For a number of years he was a field representative for NDEA. He coached elementary boy’s basketball and football. He played fast-pitch softball for Southam and Knights of Columbus in Devils Lake. Robert enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and trail riding with family and friends. Anyone who knew him well knew he had a special love for black labs and through his life was seldom without one. He is survived by a son, Richard LaFrance and special friend Colleen Fry of Gunnison, CO; daughters, Carla Paetz and her husband, Michael of Hazen, ND and Roberta Fandrich and her husband, Dean of Churchs Ferry, ND. Grandchildren: Kristie (Aaron) Schneekloth, Elisa LaFrance, Kari (Chris) Papke, Tonya (Leonhard) Joern, Amanda (Keoni) Kins, Dean Frandrich, Jr. (special friend Codi Peterson) and Amy Fandrich and fiancé Ben Chenze. Great grandchildren, Gabriel Schneekloth, McKenna and Parker Joern; Mother, Althea LaFrance of Devils Lake; Sisters, Shirley Peterson of Rock Lake, ND and Peggy (Lloyd) Smithey of Chico, CA; Six nieces and nephews, several aunts, and cousins and Mother of his children, Angela Reisnouer. Robert was preceded in death by his father, infant sister, brother-in-law Alvin Peterson and several aunts and uncles.