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1927 Ovide 2016

Ovide Gendreau

January 7, 1927 — January 29, 2016

Ovide A. Gendreau, 89, Mandan, died January 29, 2016, at Missouri Slope Care Center in Bismarck.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Christ the King Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Joe Deichert as celebrant and Rev. Nick Schneider as concelebrant. Burial will be at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Mandan, ND at 12:00 pm following the service. Military committal services will be provided by Mandan American Legion Post #40 and VFW Post #707.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 3:00-9:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, with a Rosary and Vigil at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Thursday.

Ovide A. Gendreau, Mandan, formerly of Walhalla, ND was born on January 7, 1927, in the Walhalla, ND area. He was the son of Albert and Emelia (Lepire) Gendreau. Ovide was raised on a farm and graduated from Walhalla High School. He attended the school of Accounting at Golden Gate College in San Francisco, CA, and also the American Institute of Banking. He worked in banking for a number of years. After his banking career, he worked as a credit manager for a leading newspaper in San Francisco.

Ovide returned to North Dakota and moved to Mandan in 1976. He then started training at the Heartview Foundation through Mary College and became a Licensed Certified Addiction Counselor. Ovide retired from the Heartview Foundation June 30, 1990, as a Licensed Certified Addiction Counselor after fourteen years in his practice.

Ovide served in the United States Army and later attended Finance School and upon graduation, he continued his duties in the Army’s Finance Department until he was honorably discharged on November 16, 1946 as a sergeant.

Ovide had traveled extensively; some of his highlights were Europe, Italy, and Spain, parts of Africa, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Finland, Mexico, Portugal and the Caribbean and many cruises including the Panama Canal. Ovide achieved his dream when he visited the Holy Land and walked the Lord’s footsteps, which became a reality in 1995. At one time in his life he had a desire to become a priest. His strong faith in God has gotten him through many trials in life. He enjoyed helping people with their needs and he said, “If he lived like his Mother’s way, he’d have no fear”. Working at Heartview, he felt that his ministry was to help others with their addiction. Ovide was very close to his Canadian friends. On a yearly basis, he traveled to Canada to visit his ex-patients and their families. He always felt well received and respected by them. His reward was seeing his patients turn their lives around and stay well to embrace a life of spirituality and sobriety.

He was a member of the American Legion in Walhalla, Bartlett-Ressler VFW Post #40062, becoming a member in 1974. He was also a member of the Mandan Elks since 1977.

Ovide is survived by his two brothers and sisters-in-law, Morris (Patricia) Lake Havasu, AZ and Stanley (Evelyn) Langdon, ND; two sisters, Doris Gapp, Minnetonka, MN and LaRae McDonald Minot, ND; sister-in-law Gloria Gendreau, Walhalla, ND; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Emil Gendreau; two brothers-in-law Albert Gapp, and Jim McDonald; and nephew Wayne Gendreau.

Memorials may be given to Masses at Christ the King Catholic Church Mandan, ND; Home on the Range Sentinel Butte, ND; and/or North Dakota Diabetes Association.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ovide Gendreau, please visit our flower store.

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