Antoinette Olivine Lagasse

Antoinette Lagasse, Crookston, MN (formerly of Rolla, ND) died on October 6, 2022 at the age of 100.  Antoinette, the second daughter of Arthur and Regina (Jalbert) Rivard, was born on March 8, 1922 in their farm home near Fir Mountain, Saskatchewan, Canada. One week later, with her mother’s death, Antoinette was placed in the home of her great aunt and uncle, Virginia and August Jalbert.  She was raised in their nurturing home as one of the family.  At age six, the country school provided new challenges for the shy, French-speaking child and the English-speaking teacher; her sisters served as interpreters.

Antoinette worked in a limited self-service grocery store in LaFleche, Saskatchewan while waiting for Omer, her future husband, to complete his four-year tour of duty in the U.S. Army during World War II.  Omer, unable to purchase a car following the war, borrowed his father’s to make the journey to wed Antoinette in October 1946.  This union saw the formation of a family of six, three sons and three daughters. 

Whatever she took on, Antoinette gave it her best; whether raising her family, entertaining relatives, creating decorative cakes, or doing clothing alterations.  Her many skills touched many lives.

St. Joachim Catholic Church in Rolla, ND was a big part of her life, assisting the Altar Society, washing the altar linens and instructing many in the sacraments of Penance and First Communion. 

Antoinette will be lovingly remembered by her family:  Lucille (David) Des Roches and their daughter, Jeannine (John) Hunt and their son, Dalton;  Estelle (Terry) Kirchoffner and their daughters RaeAnn (Todd) Meyer and their family, Hadley, Harper, and Hudson; and Brieãnn (Michael) Jochim and their children Dominic, Felicity, Lorelei, Everett and Merida; Raymond (Diane) and their family, Christopher (Megan) and their children, Micah, Emmett, and Briella; and Aaron.  Daughter-in-law (Eileen) and her family: Daniel (Roberta) and their children, Lauren, Roxy Praus and children Payden, Jaxon, and Westyn, and April (Travis) Fugere and children Tiegan, Zoey, and Halen; Deirdre (David) Foertsch and her daughters, MyLynn (Ross) Barten and their child Lyla, and Jana; Darcy (Damon) Disrud and their children Lane (Deseire) and their child Everett, and McKayle; granddaughters, Jenny (Henry) Campos and their son, Dylen, and Katie (Nathan) Reineke and their children McKenna, Morgan, Nora, Ella, Caden and Claire.

Antoinette was preceded in death by her husband Omer, sons Leo and Roger, daughter and son-in-law Leonie and Thomas Boe, parents Arthur and Regina Rivard, step-mother Leonie Rivard, foster family members: August, Virginia, Augustine, Elie, Elida, Merilda, Leo, and Antoine Jalbert; sisters Alice, Therese and Gisele, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Rene Lorrain, Raymond Gauthier, Louis Nogue, Henry and Elizabeth Lagasse, Emil and Emma Lagasse, Arthur and Irene Lagasse, Marie Jalbert, Eva and Art Winslow, Zenon and Anne Lagasse, Fern Lagasse, Walter Godfrey, Laura and Kermit Hellem, Robert Pidde, Louis and Clarice Lagasse, Etienne Jalbert, Stella and Everette Dawson, and Linda Lagasse. 

Services are scheduled at St. Joachim Catholic Church in Rolla, ND with the prayer service on Thursday, October 20 at 7:00pm and the Funeral Mass on Friday, October 21 at 11:00am.