Walter Montplaisir
March 24, 1934 ~ October 27, 2020
Walter Live Streamed Memorial Mass can be viewed below, it will start at 10:00 A.M.:
Walter Oliver Montplaisir, 86, of Fargo, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo due to complications from COVID-19.
Walter was born on March 24, 1934, as the eighth of nine children to Arthur and Bertha (Rivard) Montplaisir. A farm kid, he learned how to work hard early on. The family lived on a farm near Horace, N.D., until 1956, when they moved into Fargo. He met the love of his life, Dorothy Borho, of Wales, N.D., at the Crystal Ball dance hall in June 1957. Walt and his cousin, Gerald Rivard, approached Dorothy and her sister, Myrna, at the dance hall. As they say, the rest is history!
Walt and Dorothy got married two years later on October 3, 1959, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Wales, N.D. Myrna and Gerald, who also married, were in attendance. Walt and Dorothy celebrated 61 years of marriage this year.
Walt worked as a welder at WestGo before becoming a truck driver. He spent 10 years as a welder at WestGo Manufacturing, which he helped unionize. Walt was a proud member of his Local 116 Teamsters Union. A true handyman, his years as a welder inspired him to start making fold-out campers for his family to use. Walt underwent lung surgery in 1969, and his doctor advised against a welding career. He then went on to work for Lewis Trucklines, where he again helped to unionize, until his retirement in 1994.
He loved being outside and cherished spending time with his family. Nothing brought him more joy than all the family time spent camping on weekends and vacations. Walt was an avid hunter and fisherman, and thoroughly enjoyed snowmobiling. He and Dorothy spent many summer days actively fishing in Devils Lake, and this summer was no exception. Many trips and adventures also included their extended family. Walt instilled his same love of nature and work ethic in his family.
A jack-of-all-trades who could fix anything, Walt remodeled every house he ever lived in, including all of his children’s homes. He loved a good joke and spent time with his buddies shaking dice at the KC’s, and later the AmVets in Fargo. Walt was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He stayed active shoveling snow and mowing the lawn until his death. He even shoveled snow from the sidewalk the day before he was hospitalized for a coronavirus infection.
Walter is survived by his wife Dorothy, their five children and 11 grandchildren: Craig (Pam) Montplaisir of Fargo, their children Zach and Carissa Wigginton; Lynette (Ken) Sayler of Horace and their daughter Cassandra (Reece) Vega; Michelle Montplaisir (Jack Parr) and their daughter Chenelle; Jeff (Suzie) Montplaisir of Menoken, N.D., and their children Caden, Katelyn and Kayleigh; and Paul (Lisa) Montplaisir of Harwood and their children Matthew, Sarah, Anna, and Ella. He is also survived by his sisters Medrise Johnson, Kathleen Rasmussen, and June Thies.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, and four brothers.
A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo, with a rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery North in Fargo. Masks are required. Both services will be live streamed on Boulger Funeral Home’s website. A Celebration of Life for extended family is being planned for Father’s Day in June of 2021.
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Dorothy and Family
I am so saddened of the passing of Walt. He was a great husband to Dorothy and father to his children. He always had a smile on his face. I know Dorothy that we didn’t see much of each other in the past years after your retirement but I thought of you and Walt many times. I have many fond memories of being up at the KC’s with Walt and Dorothy for meals especially the Saturday Burgers.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Dorothy and Family! Wishing you Gods Peace.🙏🙏🙏
Dorothy, I am so sorry for your loss. Walt was one of kind and will missed by everyone who got to know him. I loved seeing you and him and all your frfriends from the KCs. I wish you peace and healing. I hope to see you again at the AMVETs club. Susan Forney
So sorry to read about Walt’s passing. My memories are from his days following our softball team, which was sponsored by the KC’s. Walt was part of a great group of people who supported us in many ways. Especially during the annual wild game feed.
My deepest sympathies to Walt’s family.
Sincerely,
James Speral
I am so sorry for your loss. Keep the memories close at heart for comfort through the days ahead. Head Start was not the same after you retired Dorothy. I can still hear you singing “Old Dan Tucker” and hearing of your adventures with Walt. Take care of you and prayers for your family.
Dorothy and family,
We are so sorry to hear of Walt’s passing. And also sorry that we are unable to attend the funeral as my husband tested positive for Covid yesterday so we are quarantined. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers during this very sorrowful time 😢
Hugs to all. Marla and Terry Luehring
Prayers for you Dorothy and Walt
Dear Dorothy and family,
Our hearts are aching for you and your family during this difficult time. Praying that you can find peace in God’s love and all the wonderful memories you have of Walt.
Love and Blessings!
Dorothy and Family My thoughts and prayers are with each of you
Dorothy & family my prayers are with you all. Loved running into you and your family up at the KC’s. Between darts, cards, pool, and an occasional Windsor coke it was a fun place for a Lutheran to hang out! Always a friendly greeting from Dorothy and Walt, I will miss him!
I’m so sorry Dorothy for the loss of your Walter. May God give you rhe love and peace you need during this time.
Dorothy and Family
We are so sorry for your loss of Walt. Sorry we cannot attend the funeral as we are quarantined due to a friend testing positive. We fondly remember all the good times we had during our many camping trips with you and Rivards. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. God’s Blessings!
Dorothy and family.
Lavern Ouellette and his family wish to extend our deepest sympathy on the loss of Walter, Fond memories of days past and prayers in our hearts for all of you at this time. Hold tight to your memories and love he had for his family.
Dear Craig and family: My deepest sympathy for your loss. I have fond memories as a kid playing over at your house, and later when we were older we even got to have a beer with Walter at the KC’s. One fun memory of Walt I have is when we asked him if his company could sponsor one of our baseball teams. The Lewis Truck Line Roadrunners! Jeanine and I are thinking of your Mom, Dorothy, you and all your brothers and sisters! God bless Mountain Man….
I was absolutely shocked to see the obit today. My heart aches for you. I know all too well what it feels like. Elias died last Nov. 24th, so it’s been a tough year, but at least it wasn’t from Covid, so we were able to gather like we should. I miss you. My daughter is at the AMVETS alot. Maybe we could see each other there.
Dode, please call Boulger for my email address if you can’t see it here. Marilyn Hoffart
Dorothy and family,
I’m so sorry to hear of Walts passing. I have many good
memories of being neighbors and watching your family grow. Glad I got you see you at Ashley’s wedding.
Thinking of you all with love and sympathy 😘
My sincere sympathy to all of Walt’s family. I worked in the trucking industry for many years and Walt always had a smile on his face and was so pleasant. Treasure all the great memories you have of him. RIP Walt
Rachel Schultz
Sorry for the loss of your father thoughts and prayers to your family.
Dorothy & Family,
It is with deepest sympathy to you and your family on the loss of your loved on Walt. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May God bring you strength and courage in the days ahead. Take care.
God’s richest blessings to you, Dorothy, and all your family on your great loss. We will remember Walt in our prayers.
It was a beautiful service for Walt. My condolences go out to the entire Montplaisir family.
Eternal rest, grant onto Walt, oh Lord, and let the purpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of Christ, rest in peace. Amen
Sorry I couldn’t be there. Hugs to all! 🙏🙏
Dorothy-I was sorry to hear of Walt’s passing. I know my parents enjoyed their friendship with you both over the years. Sending prayers for peace.
God bless.
Wayne & Joanne Blanchard’s daughter Tami
I feel so fortunate that I got to see and visit with Walter at the Am Vets just a couple weeks ago. He was doing one of the things he loved to do, visiting with his friends and sharing all the stories of days gone by. I will never forget the sound of his infectious laugh and he had a smile that lit up his whole face and made you want to smile too. I have many memories of him and Dad hunting and fishing, the were real Sportsmen. He will be dearly missed by many people. I am sure, Dorothy, it will be very hard, losing a part of yourself, in his passing, but the memories of so many good years and being loved by such a good man, in time will bring a smile back to your heart and face. He has physically left this earth for a better place, but he will always be with us in our memories. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow. Lori Rourke
Dorothy,
We were so saddened by the news of Walter. We are sorry for your loss, and our prayers are with you and your family. We always enjoyed getting together with you and Walter, and Myrna and Gerald in AZ. We always loved listening to Walter’s stories. We offer you our condolences, and love.
I’m so sorry to learn of Walter’s passing. My deepest condolences to Walt’s family and friends. I was Walt’s UPS driver at his home and Saw Walter many times downtown as were both making deliveries to stores in downtown Fargo. I also saw Walter at many gatherings at the Amvets Club in Fargo. I’ll have you in my thoughts and prayers. Take care and God Bless. Rest in peace.
Grandpa, miss you and know you are looking over us ❤️❤️❤️❤️