Crookston -
Willard Boutain, 78, formerly of the Dorothy area, died Sunday,
September 24, 2000 at his daughter's home in Crookston.
Mass of Christian burial will be held today (Wednesday, September 27) at 1:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls with Father Tim Bushy officiating. Polly Beyer will be the organist, and special music will be provided by St. Joseph's Church Choir. Military honors will be accorded by the Red Lake Falls American Legion Post. Interment will be in St. Dorothy's Cemetery in Dorothy.
Visitation was held Tuesday, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to services at the church.
Willard Gilbert Boutain was born on October 12, 1921 in Wylie township of Red Lake county, the son of Eli and Anna (Landa) Boutain. He was raised in Wylie township and attended school in the area. Willard served with the U.S. Army from March 24, 1945 until his honorable discharge on December 28, 1946. He received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He returned to Wylie township where he farmed all of his life.
On July 21, 1962, he was united in marriage to Angeline Lefebvre in Red Lake Falls. Angeline died on July 4, 1990. Following Willard's retirement in 1993, he moved to Crookston where he has lived with his daughter, Kim, and her family.
He was a member of the Red Lake Falls American Legion Post and Crookston VFW. He was also a member of St. Dorothy's Catholic Church and served on the Wylie Township board for many years.
He enjoyed playing tricks on people and telling stories to his family. He also enjoyed yard work, gardening, cutting wood, hunting and fishing.
Willard is survived by a daughter, Kim (Jon) Volker of Crookston; two grandchildren; six stepchildren, Ronnie Cassavant of Thief River Falls, DeeDee (Doug) Poole of Alexandria, and Shirley (Joe) Hanson, Alan Cassavant, Judy (Wayne) Violette and Orren Cassavant, all of Red Lake Falls; 14 step grandchildren; 16 step great-grandchildren; two brothers, Harvey Boutain of Menahga and Ralph Boutain of Thief River Falls; two sisters, Lucille (Paul) Starken of Biwabik and Elsie (Jim) Wolner of Park Rapids; and many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; seven brothers, Emil Boutain, Elmer Boutain, Herman Boutain, Edward Boutain, Andrew Boutain, Dale Boutain and Ray Boutain; and two sisters, Mamie Meyer and Madeline Molskness. A00003B2000SP27