Obituary: Eugene LaMotte

Eugene Harlan "Gene" LaMotte Sr., 83, of Devils Lake formerly of the Wood Lake-Tokio area passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 at Essentia Health, Fargo, N.D.

Mass of Christian Burial was be held on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with burial in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. Military Honors were accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. The funeral Mass will be live-streamed on facebook.com/stjosephdvl. Visitation was held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Casket bearers were Brady Peterson, Tim Peterson, Randy Peterson, Gene LaMotte Jr., Todd LaMotte, Jim LaMotte and Paul Hanson. Scripture readers were Bob LaMotte and Wanda Peterson was the Eucharistic Gift Bearer. Honorary bearers were all of Gene's many dear friends and neighbors.

Gene, son of Lector and Caroline (Halvorson) LaMotte was born on Nov. 25, 1937 at McVille, N.D. At a very young age, Gene moved with the family to the Felix LaMotte farm, southeast of Hamar, where Lector worked as a farm laborer. Only a few years later, the family moved to the Eugene LaMotte Homestead (the house has been restored and still stands today) again in the Hamar area where Gene attended the Colvin #1 Township School. In 1945, another move brought them to the Breckheimer farm, and Gene attended Colvin #2 Township School and graduated from the eighth grade. Gene and his brothers walked 2 ½ mi, to and from their one-room schoolhouse or rode their pony. In 1951 another family move brought them to Hamar. As a young man, Gene worked for several area farmers and for Archie Cambell at the Crystal Springs Ranch near Warwick. He also drove gravel truck and worked road construction for Hulstrand Construction.

Gene was drafted into the United States Army on Aug. 29, 1961 and proudly and honorably served his country during the Cuban Missile Crisis, ready at a moment's notice to be deployed. He did serve in Germany for about 1 ½ years. He was honorably discharged from active duty on Aug. 13, 1963 with the rank of PFC. He continued his service with the Reserve until Aug. 28, 1967.

Gene was united in marriage to his sweetheart, Janelle DeVoogdt on March 27, 1967. They established their home on the former Fredrick Farm, that Gene had purchased in 1965, south of Wood Lake. This is where they farmed, and established Wood Lake Dairy, and raised their family through the years. In 1979 they built a state-of-art dairy barn that brought them notoriety as being very progressive as dairy farmers. In 1986, they dispersed the dairy herd and began raising beef cattle. Janelle died on July 6, 1991. In 2001 Gene sold the farm and moved south of Fort Totten. For 10 plus years, Gene has called Devils Lake home.

First and foremost, Gene loved his family, took great pleasure in being a grandpa and great-grandpa and was a good friend to many.

Gene's loving family includes his daughter Wanda and her husband Brady Peterson of Rocklake, N.D., his son Eugene LaMotte Jr. and his wife Sally of Devils Lake, N.D.; grandchildren Tim Peterson and Randy Peterson, Loralee LaMotte (Matt) and Lukas LaMotte (Mychal); Great-Granddaughter Alexis Hill; brothers Robert LaMotte, Devils Lake, N.D. and Tom (Mary) LaMotte, Warwick N.D.; mother-in-law Margaret DeVoogdt also of Devils Lake, N.D.; in-laws JoAnn (Gary) Grad, Casa Grande Ariz., Jim DeVoogdt, Tokio N.D.; numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Janelle, grandson Clay James LaMotte, brother Joseph in infancy, father-in-law Joe DeVoogdt and sisters-in-law Mardell LaMotte and Linde Pare'.

Arrangements by Gilbertson Funeral Home of Devils Lake, N.D.