Paul Laliberte

Paul Quentin Laliberte died Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fresno, California, at age 77.

Paul was born July 1, 1948, to Leness and Mary (Heimerman) Laliberte in Fargo, North Dakota, where he was educated at St. Anthony of Padua parish school and Shanley High School (class of 1966). In 1967, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated in 1971 as a second lieutenant and began a 21-year Army career, first serving in artillery units in South Korea and Fort Lewis, Washington.

Rising through the ranks, he attended advanced officer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he met Tuyet (Chris), a Vietnamese mother of two young children who had immigrated to the U.S. in 1970. Paul became a China Foreign Area Officer and in 1978 moved with Chris to Tucson, Arizona, where they married and Paul attained a master’s degree in Asian Studies at the University of Arizona.

With Paul having an instant family and a career path in focus, they moved to Hong Kong in 1979. Paul studied Mandarin Chinese for two years at a British Ministry of Defense language school and traveled throughout Asia before returning to West Point as a language professor and chief of the Chinese Language Group.

During the 1980s, Paul received command and general staff training and fulfilled executive assignments at battalion and division levels at Fort Ord, California, and as Joint Staff China/Taiwan desk officer, J5 Planning Directorate, at Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii.

Paul retired from the Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1992. He accepted a four-year civilian position at the American Institute in Taiwan, where he was primary liaison between the U.S. and Taiwanese armies. He subsequently held defense industry positions in Taipei at Raytheon and Northrop Grumman, where he was a vice president with responsibilities throughout Southeast Asia.

After 23 years of living in Taiwan, Paul retired to Fresno in 2015. Both Paul and Chris enjoyed traveling and strengthening family ties in Vietnam. In 1991, they built a second home in Chris’ hometown of Vinh Long, where they spent winters during retirement. As often as possible, Paul attended reunions with extended U.S. family members, who will miss his informed insights, thoughtful perspective, loving compassion and sardonic humor.

Paul is survived by his wife, Chris, Fresno; daughter Susan (John) Soares, Reno, Nevada; siblings Msgr. Robert Laliberte, Omaha and Fargo; Andrea (William) Lewis, Dent, Minnesota; George (Veronica) Laliberte, Topeka, Kansas; Lisa Laliberte, Fargo; Richard (Rachelle) Laliberte, Macungie, Pennsylvania; and Michael Laliberte, Fargo; and grandchild Luke Soares, Reno. Paul is preceded in death by his parents and son Claude (“Chunky”) Christopher.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 10, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Fargo, with visitation at the church one hour before the service. Visitation will also take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, with a vigil to follow, at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, Fargo.

Memorials are preferred to John Paul II Catholic Schools in Fargo.