Red Lake Falls - Armand Benoit, 93, died Thursday, April 9, 1998 at Riverview Hospital in Crookston.
A memorial mass was held on Tuesday, April 14 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls with Father Gary LeMoine officiating. Kathie Knott was the organist, and Darla Huot was the soloist. Special music was also provided by St. Joseph's Church Choir. Burial will be held later in the spring at St. Joseph's Cemetery near Red Lake Falls. The Petterson Funeral Home of Red Lake Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Armand Nels Benoit was born on July 12, 1904 at Red Lake Falls, the son of Joseph and Florida (Corbeil) Benoit. He was raised and attended school in Red Lake Falls. He worked for the Great Northern railroad and later for Brunelle Grocery. In 1928 he began working at First State Bank as an assistant cashier.
On July 23, 1928 Armand was united in marriage to Lydia Laurent at Red Lake Falls. He worked at the Red Lake Falls branch of Petersen-Biddick for a year before becoming the disbursing officer of the Red Lake and Pennington County Emergency Relief Administration. In 1936 he joined First State Bank where he continued employment until his retirement. Lydia died on June 13, 1959.
He served on the Red Lake Falls city council for several years and enjoyed fishing and gardening.
Armand is survived by two sons, Robert ( Sharlotte) Benoit of Grand Rapids and Duane (Florence) Benoit of Pine City; three daughters, Beverly (Henry) O'Neil of Fargo, ND, Cecile (Bill) Kelley of Minneapolis and Donna Benoit of Red Lake Falls; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and one sister, Lorena Dupont of Yakima, WA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; two brothers, Medore and Arthur; and one sister, Emma.