MARK LALIBERTE

MARK LALIBERTE Mark Laliberte, 83, of Grand Forks, ND passed away Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at Valley Senior Living on Columbia in Grand Forks, following years of battling dementia. Mark was born May 11, 1940, in Crookston, MN to parents Theodore and Blanche (Trudeau) Laliberte. He attended St. Joseph Academy through 8th grade, then went on to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, where he graduated in 1958. Following high school, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks for 2 years and played hockey. Mark married Barb Boucher, in Crookston, where they raised 3 children, Brian, Jeff, and Kristi. Mark was drafted into the United States Army, serving from October 1961 to October 1963. While serving, Mark and Barb lived in Fort Gordon, Georgia. Following Mark's honorable discharge, they moved back to Crookston, MN, where he started his barber education. He got his barber's license in 1967 and worked in Crookston and the surrounding communities. In the early 1970s, Mark and his family moved south of Crookston and began farming. They lived there and farmed until the mid-1980s after which Mark went into the insurance business until his retirement. Mark moved to Grand Forks in 1999, following his marriage to Lorraine (Branvold) Gador on March 7, 1999, in Oahu, Hawaii. Throughout their marriage, they traveled to many wonderful places such as Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Cabo San Lucas. For several years, they traveled south to Mesa AZ, where they spent the winter. Summers were enjoyed at Lake of the Woods, where they spent their time fishing and camping. Mark loved hunting, fishing, and hockey. Because of his love for hockey, he played and coached the senior Pirates hockey team for several years, in Crookston. Mark's faith was a vital aspect of his life. He was a member of the Crookston Cathedral for most of his life and after moving to Grand Forks, he became a member of Holy Family church. In 2021, Mark moved to Maple View Home for dementia care. As his dementia progressed, he moved to Valley Senior Living until his death. He received wonderful care while in the nursing home. Mark is survived by his wife, Lorraine. His sons Brian (Heidi) Laliberte of Kirkland, WA, Jeff (Jessica) Laliberte of Fargo, ND, and daughter, Kristi Laliberte of East Grand Forks, MN; Stepsons, Darin (Cindy) Gador, Shane Gador, and Rob (Jennifer) Gador of Cincinnati, OH. He is also survived by his sister, Sister Claudia, a Franciscan Sister of Rochester, MN, sister-in-law, Dorothy of Coon Rapids, MN, 10 step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Mark was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald, Coon Rapids, MN, and sister, Bona (Warren) LaPlant, Red Wing, MN. Memorial Mass: 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2024, in Holy Family Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND. Family Greeting: One hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Friday. Interment: Memorial Park South Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND. Military Honors: Military Honors: Accorded by members of the American Legion Post 157, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3817, and the North Dakota Army National Guard. The online memorial registry may be signed at www.normanfuneral.com. (The Historic Norman Funeral Home, Grand Forks, ND.)