LaRae McDonald Obituary

LaRae McDonald, 90, Minot, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025 in a Garrison hospital.

I was born on May 13, 1935, to Albert and Emelia (LePire) Gendreau in Walhalla, North Dakota. I was the youngest of six children - four boys and two girls. As a farm girl, my main job was gathering eggs, which I absolutely hated because the chickens always pecked at me! I eventually convinced my mom to give me an empty gallon can of Karo syrup to cover their heads, which made the task a little easier. I didn't milk cows very often, but I was always helping my mom keep the house clean, preparing meals, and even scrubbing the outdoor biffy in the summertime. I made sure to keep it stocked with Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs, and of course, the much-preferred peach tissue-those who know, know!

I attended Poplar Grove and parochial boarding schools at St. Alphonsus in Langdon, North Dakota, and Oakward near Grafton, North Dakota. When I was in 8th grade, my parents moved to Walhalla, and I continued my education there, graduating from high school in 1953. After high school, I attended North Dakota Agricultural School in Fargo and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. It was at NDSU that I met Jim McDonald from Deering, North Dakota.

After graduating, I taught for one year in Lakota, North Dakota, and worked at the Walsh County Home Extension Agency, while Jim completed his education. He then went to Officer's Training School in Harlingen, Texas, and we continued our relationship long-distance.

Jim and I were married on September 29, 1960 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla, North Dakota. In October of that same year, we moved to Mather Air Force base in Sacramento, California. In 1961, we relocated to Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota, where I worked with the Extension Service for Pennington County for four years. We stayed in Rapid City with our two daughters, Renae and Michelle, until Jim chose to leave the Air Force, and we made our permanent home in Minot where Denise and Doug were born. In Minot, I worked for the Ward County Extension Service and then for the First District Health Unit as Director of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program for 23 years before retiring.

My life has been greatly enriched by my family and faith. I loved being married and raising our children. I found joy in God's creations, particularly through flower gardening and working with my hands in the dirt. As a member of Little Flower Catholic Church and the Confraternity of Christian Women, I cherished opportunities to serve others, whether it was helping with funeral lunches, Bible study, assisting with the RCIA program, or contributing in any way I could. Daily Mass was always such a gift. I also felt incredibly blessed to care for our special-needs daughter, Renae, and later, Jim, when he became disabled after his cancer diagnosis. Jim passed away on October 16, 2002.

In 2017, I moved to Somerset Assisted Living and later to the Garrison Nursing Facility in 2024. Over the years, I've been fortunate to build lasting friendships with neighbors, classmates, coworkers, caregivers and fellow members of my faith community. I am deeply grateful for the care and love I've received in this final chapter of my life.

As I reflect on my life, I feel nothing but gratitude. I had the chance to tell my family in my final days, "I've had a wonderful life, and I love you all."

LaRae is survived by daughters: Michelle (Curt) Saari and Denise (Jay) Landsiedel; son: Douglas (Kolette) McDonald; six grandchildren: Dana (Cole) Duchscherer, Heather (Dustin) Schenfisch, Christian "Drew" (Emmy Dykema) Saari, Sydney (Matt) Yale, Mikayla McDonald, and Dylan McDonald; eight great grandchildren: Clay Schenfisch, Hadley Duchscherer, Tatum Schenfisch, Tucker Duchscherer, Crosby Schenfisch, Grant Christen, Pippen Yale, and Della Yale; brother and sister-in-law: Stanley (Evelyn) Gendreau; brother-in-law: Tom McDonald; sisters-in-law: Pat Gendreau, Carolyn Johnson, and Teresa Cowan and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim and daughter, Kathryn "Renae" McDonald; parents: Albert and Emelia Gendreau; father and mother-in-law: Lester and Ruth McDonald; grandchildren: Reagan Schenfisch and John Landsiedel V; brothers: Emil Gendreau, Ovide Gendreau and Morris Gendreau; sister: Doris Gapp; sisters-in-law: Patricia McDonald, Gloria Gendreau and Mary Jo Merck; brothers-in-law: Albert Gapp, Wesley Johnson, Daniel McDonald, William Cowan and William Merck; nephew: Kevin Johnson.

Our family would like to thank the many family, friends and caregivers for your thoughts, prayers, acts of kindness and care for LaRae during this difficult time.

May God bless the memory of LaRae.

Visitation: Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from 4 pm until 6 pm at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 6 pm in Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot.

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 10 am at St. Therese Church of the Little Flower, Minot, ND.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to Thompson-Larson Funeral Home's YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/live/XL4VxwvtoNU?feature=share

Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

In Lieu of flowers, Memorials may be given to Little Flower Catholic Church, The Minot 2nd Story, or the American Diabetes Association.