Edward Belgarde

Edward "Spuddy" Belgarde, 80, Minot, formerly of Belcourt, ND, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2025 at a Minot assisted living facility.
Edward was born on January 11, 1945 in Belcourt to Frank LaVallie and Nora (Belgarde) Charette. He was raised and educated in the Belcourt area. When he was still a young man, Edward moved to California for a few years where he worked at a movie theater and in the oil fields before moving back to Belcourt.
Edward was united in marriage to Zandra Short in 1966. The couple would have two children together, Tammy and Daniel. Although the union ended in divorce, he loved her till the day he passed.
Edward worked for 50 years as the janitor and maintenance man for the Turtle Mountain Housing Authority. He was the only person in history to ever hire and fire himself at the housing authority. Edward would fire himself from the job if he didn't have the coffee brewing and sidewalks shoveled by 7:45 am, but would then go back, out of the blue, sometimes years later, and resume work at 7:45 am, without so much as a phone call.
In his later years he moved to Minot, living first at Henry Towers then Edgewood Vista, so he could be closer to his daughter.
Edward was a kind, gentle, and happy man who loved life and could make a lot of friends wherever he went. He enjoyed fishing, westerns, Vikings football, the Three Stooges, and cheating at card and board games. Edward's favorite hobby, though, was girl watching. Even to his final days, nothing gave him as much enjoyment as when a pretty girl walked by.
Edward is survived by his son, Daniel R. (Bonnie) Belgarde, Belcourt; daughter Tammy (Johnny) LaFournaise, Minot; grandchildren, Jordan Syverson, Whitney Belgarde, and Danielle Belgarde; great-grandchildren, Talon, X'zayne, Soryn, and Avalon; and numerous loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, John Leonard LaVallie, Jeanette Laducer, and Richard Charette; great-granddaughter, Serenity; and nephews, Dean LaVallie and Dale Laducer.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 10 am at the Fiddler's Hall in Belcourt.