Eileen LaBarre

Eileen LaBarre, 93, devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, of Devils Lake, ND died on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Eventide, at Sheyenne Crossing Care Center, West Fargo, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Dale Kinzler will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery next to her husband. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday, July 25, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:00 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Eileen was born in Noonan Township, north of Crary, ND to Mary (Donahue) Reardon and Leslie Reardon on December 19, 1916. She was schooled at Noonan Consolidated School, graduating from high school in 1932. Eileen took a correspondence course from the business school in Devils Lake while attending Noonan School. She married Lorion (Swede) LaBarre at Sacred Heart Church in Crary, ND on May 14, 1935. They made their home in Penn and Noonan Township, ND, Minneapolis, MN, and Bartlett, ND before moving a house to a farm in Cato Township, in 1944. They lived east of Webster, ND for 36 years. They retired in 1980 and moved to Devils Lake. Eileen was a 50 year member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Mary #268. In 2000, Eileen was North Dakota Catholic Daughter of the Year. She was Regent serving from May, 1991 until June, 1995. She held other offices in the Catholic Daughters. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Altar Society, St. Rita Circle, Lake Region Pioneer Daughters, and the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary. Mom enjoyed playing cards, board games and going to the casino. Eileen spent many hours playing cribbage with Lorion. She loved caring for her flowers, cooking and baking. At the age of 92, she was still making juneberry pies and jams and jellies. Eileen’s children and grandchildren will tell you, she made the best caramel rolls, sugar cookies, baked beans and divinity of any one in the country. She enjoyed reading and watching all sports on TV, especially the Twins games. Mom was up on all things current and also liked reminiscing with anyone about the past. Her greatest passion was sewing. In her later years she made quilts. She made about fifty quilts for her growing family. Eileen is survived by her children: Delores Stromme, Broomfield, CO; Janet (Jim) Volk, Seattle, WA; Lavonne (Dean) Ummel, Brownell, KS; Jim (Ginny) LaBarre, Eau Claire, WI; Carol (Bill) McDonald; Deering, ND; Betty (Gordon) Mathiason, Caldwell, ID; Linda Steinhaus, Fargo, ND; Don LaBarre, Devils Lake, ND; Lori Denis, Fargo, ND. She is further survived by 33 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren; daughter-in-law Lee LaBarre, Vader, WA; son-in-law Dale Olson, Thornton, CO; sisters-in-law Lois Reardon, Grand Forks, ND, and Myrtle Reardon, Minot, ND. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lorion; parents, Mary and Leslie Reardon; son, Robert; daughters, Judy Berg and Marie Olson; son-in-law, Floyd Stromme, daughter-in-law, Barbara LaBarre, six brothers, Francis, Floyd, Leo, Bernard, Edward and Milton; infant sister, Janet, one infant grandson, two infant great grandsons. Eileen will be greatly missed by her family. We love you, Mom. Eileen had suggested to her family that memorials be made to St. Gianna Maternity Home, 15605 County Road 15, Minto, ND 58261.