Lena Gail Malnourie

Lena Gail Malnourie, "White Lodge Women," 74, White Shield, born August 11, 1933, passed away in her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in White Shield. A wake will be held today beginning at 5 p.m. at the church. Burial will be at the church cemetery in rural White Shield.

Lena Gail was a proud enrolled member of the Arikara & Hidatsa Nations and member of the Prairie Chicken Clan. Parents are the late Vincent Malnourie 2 terms as Tribal Chairman of the Fort Berthold Reservation, and the late Vida Lillian (Fox) Malnourie of White Shield, N.D. Lena held teaching degrees from the State Teachers College of Minot, N.D., 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 comfortableI rode on horse and carriage across the old Four Bears Bridge, and never dreamed of witnessing its replacementBeing crowned Miss Fort Berthold in 1957 was a memorable time for me and my familyI have gone on numerous trips with my students, too numerous to mention, and with my friends that produced great memoriesMy final memories are of those who passed on to the spirit world; remembering my parent's 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, WI; Donald (Beverly) Fox Sr. of Cannonball, ND; Ralph (Gloria) Fox, Vancouver, WA; Niece/Daughter Vida Lillian Fox of Lawrence, KS. Sister-in-law Ramona Malnourie; Nieces and Nephews Vincent (Jeanette) Malnourie, New Town, ND, Melinda (James) Mcfadden, Pensacola, FL, John (Tina) Malnourie, Grand Forks, ND, Ramon (Cody) Malnourie Bismarck, ND, Dawn Malnourie Lame Deer, MT. Adopted Grandchildren.

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