Paul Nicholas Deplazes

Paul N. Deplazes, 85 retired rural Webster farmer, died on Monday evening, April 3, 2006 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. Mass of Christian Burial for Paul will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 7, 2006 in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Joseph Christensen will celebrate the Mass with burial in the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, rural Webster, ND. Visitation will be Thursday, April 6, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture service at 7:00 p.m. in the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel, Devils Lake. Paul Nicholas Deplazes was born on January 6, 1921 in rural Pierce County, the youngest child of Nicholas Joseph and Margaret Katherine (Scharf) Deplazes. He grew up on the family homestead north of York and attended schools in rural Pierce County, St. Mary’s Academy in Devils Lake and graduated from Wolford High School. Paul was united in marriage to Eloise Else on January 29, 1942 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cando, ND. That spring they moved to a farm north of Devils Lake. In 1945, they purchased a farm northeast of Webster where they would raise their family. Paul served on the Harding Township School Board, the Harding Township Board and was a trustee for St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church for a time. He also served as a 4-H leader and as a Cub Scout leader. He has been a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Devils Lake for the past 25 years. He was also a 60 year member of Elks Lodge 1216. Eloise passed away March 27, 1979. Paul married Cleo (Tibke) Wood on October 24, 1980, retired from the farm and moved to Devils Lake. He and Cleo enjoyed taking care of their yard and garden, camping throughout North Dakota and several other states and visiting their children and grandchildren. They were especially fond of Medora in the summer and enjoyed visiting relatives in Wyoming, Nevada and New Mexico during a month long trip each winter. He was a life-long hunter and especially enjoyed telling stories of his elk hunts in Wyoming with two of his brothers-in-law. Cleo would hunt grouse with him every fall near Killdeer. Paul is survived by his wife, Cleo and their families; Diane (Gary Walkley) Engebretson, Devils Lake; Mike (Glenda) Deplazes, Crary; Nola (Dan) Dahlen, Devils Lake; Terry (Judy) Wood, Elk River, MN; Clayton (Adele) Wood, Warwick; Robin Wood, International Falls, MN; and David (Tracy) Deplazes, Gardner; numerous grandchildren and several great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a sister, Margaret Ely, Greybull, WY; sisters-in-law, Hester Deplazes, Mandan; Dorothy Deplazes, Cando; Violet Deplazes, Devils Lake; Mayme Chilson, Greybull, WY; Doris (Russell) Michaels, Leeds, and Elizabeth (Paul) Kranich, Elgin. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Eloise; brothers, Plazi (P.A.), Joseph, John, Francis, Leonard, Bernard and Paul Jacob; sisters, Mary, Ursula, Dorothy Lee, Rose (Sr. Judith), Lucy, Cecilia (Sr. Alban) and Agnes Fletschock. Friends may sign the online register at www.gilbertson.com