John Arthur "Art" LaFleur

John Arthur 'Art' LaFleur

John Arthur “Art” LaFleur, 84, of Devils Lake, ND, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, at Eventide Heartland Care Center.

Art was born Nov. 19, 1935, at St. John’s Hospital, Fargo, ND, the son of Arthur M. and Esther M. (Oleson) LaFleur. He grew up in Devils Lake after his family moved there when he was an infant. He attended St. Mary’s Academy graduating in 1953 and completed two years of college beyond that.

Art never married, instead he devoted his life to supporting and caring for his widowed mother, Esther, until her death.

Art was an active member of St. Joseph Church and was a member of the choir off and on through the years. He also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends and was a member of the Devils Lake Elks Lodge.

He served in the U.S.  Army, stationed overseas in Korea during peacetime, 1959 - 1961, serving an additional four years in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1965. The summer before going into the Army, he had worked for the ND State Highway Department as part of the survey crew and made that his life’s work after his discharge. He worked on numerous projects in his career including surveying and helping to build the bridges on Highway 57 and 19 as Devils Lake waters continued to rise in the late 1970s.

He had many interests and hobbies outside of his work, including photography, inspired by Devils Lake’s Jim Erickson. He also enjoyed collecting coins and stamps. Plus, he loved gardening, spending many hours on his flower beds in the back yard on 7th Ave NE. Art was bitten by the travel bug during his time in the service and for many years enjoyed vacations to places like Hawaii, South Padre Island, Tex. and other destinations with a friend or two.

Among those who survive of Art’s family are; Daryl (Karen) Oleson and family of Mission Viejo, Calif.; Louise Oleson of Devils Lake; Lynn (Mike) James and family of Tucson, Ariz.; Judy (Mark) MacDonald and family, of Devils Lake; Larry (Jacky) Fugle and family of Puyallup, Wash., and Andy (Jan) Fugle and family of Fargo.
Art is also survived by his loving family from St. Joseph Catholic Church,Father Wilhelm and all those who ministered to his physical, emotional and spiritual needs while a resident of Heartland Care.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur M. LaFleur on Jan. 7, 1954 and Esther M. (Oleson) LaFleur on May 26, 1990.

Mass of Christian Burial for Art will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass.  Art will be laid to rest in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery beside his parents. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.

Gathering of family and friends will be held on Monday, December 9, 2019 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:30 p.m. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass.