Lena Malnourie

Lena Malnourie

WHITE SHIELD - Lena Gail Malnourie, "White Lodge Women", 74, White Shield, born Aug. 11, 1933, passed away in her home surrounded by her family, July 9, 2008. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, White Shield.

A wake will be held beginning at 5 p.m. today, at the church. Burial will be at the church cemetery, rural White Shield.

Lena Gail was a proud enrolled member of the Arikara and Hidatsa Nations and member of the Prairie Chicken Clan. Her parents are the late Vincent Malnourie, two terms as Tribal Chairman of the Fort Berthold Reservation, and the late Vida Lillian (Fox) Malnourie of White Shield. Lena held teaching degrees from the State Teachers College of Minot, and University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. She retired from the profession of elementary education with 34 years of experience, over the years encountering many, many wonderful students. Her teaching experiences were on the Standing Rock and Fort Berthold Reservations centered on Native American students and at Hackett Country School.

The following narrative is from Lena Gail's life experiences: "I have many memories of growing up in Elbowoods, N.D., with my grandmas Carrie Two Crow and Daisy Little Sioux, and my grandpa Hiram Price. Here we planted big gardens, chopped wood, picked berries and hauled water to make our life comfortable. I rode on horse and carriage across the old Four Bears Bridge, and never dreamed of witnessing its replacement. Being crowned Miss Fort Berthold in 1957, was a memorable time for me and my family. I have gone on numerous trips with my students, too numerous to mention, and with my friends that produced great memories. My final memories are of those who passed on to the spirit world; remembering my parents' beliefs in our Indian ways; and most of all Grand-entry with my family members."

Surviving members of Lena Gail include nephew/son, Thom (Utina), Hayward, Wis., Donald (Beverly) Fox Sr., Cannon Ball, and Ralph (Gloria) Fox, Vancouver, Wash.; niece/daughter, Vida Lillian Fox, Lawrence, Kan.; sister-in-law, Ramona Malnourie; nieces and nephews, Vincent (Jeanette) Malnourie, New Town, Melinda (James) Mcfadden, Pensacola, Fla., John (Tina) Malnourie, Grand Forks, Ramon (Cody) Malnourie, Bismarck, and Dawn Malnourie, Lame Deer, Mont.; and adopted grandchildren.

Lena Gail is preceded by her father, Vincent; mother, Vida Malnourie; brother, Donald "Budzie" Malnourie; brother, John Vincent; sister, Donna Lee (Malnourie) Fox; and grandparents, Grandpa and Grandma Little Sioux, (paternal), and Roaming Fox and Carrie (Two Crow) Price (maternal). (Thompson Funeral Home, Garrison)