Estella R. Garcia

Estelle Ruth (Delorme) Garcia passed away Monday, August 13, 2019 on the day of her 99^th birthday.

Estelle (Stella) was born in Belcourt, ND on August 13, 1920 to Francois and Margaret (Jollie) Delorme. She lived in Belcourt during her growing years but left home to attend school at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD where she studied to be a teacher. While in attendance there she was voted Homecoming Queen.

Around that time, she served in the Navy and met and married the love of her life David (Dave) Garcia. Dave studied law at the University of North Dakota and afterward they moved to Devils Lake, ND.  Stella served as head resident of the women’s’ dorm and as a teacher at Ft. Totten School, Ft. Totten, ND

Together she and Dave had six children David, Kirk, Lisa, Gregg, Lori and Mary Beverly who died as an infant. For many of their married years, the Garcia’s lived in a lovely home on Devils Lake where they graciously welcomed family and friends to cookouts around their pool, after-church breakfasts, family reunions and weddings often accompanied by a band from the Turtle Mountain Reservation.

Stella was always a great example to the young women who knew her. She had a lovely sense of fashion and was always impeccably dressed for every occasion.  She was a woman of great intellect and although she was soft spoken, she had a powerful voice.  She was a wonderful role model for any young woman who was fortunate enough to have her for a mentor.  She was also known for her sense of humor and had a hearty laugh.  Her husband Dave had a quick wit as well. The two were a dynamic couple. 

Estelle is preceded in death by her husband David, her infant daughter Mary Beverly, her son Kirk and her daughter Lisa. She is also preceded by her parents Francois and Margaret, her brother David, sisters Blanche and Alma, grandson Dane Garcia, granddaughter Celeste Keplin, Sister in Law Rosemary and her husband Al McKay, and her Father and Mother in Law David Sr. and Marion Garcia.

Of special note, she was preceded in death by Florence Joshua and her husband Lawrence who had adopted her into the Spirit Lake Nation. They were all activists involved with promoting social justice through a variety of initiatives along with Stella’s godson Sam English, Jr.

She is survived by her children David, Belcourt, ND; Gregg, Devils Lake, ND; and Lori (Steve Gordon) Devils Lake, ND; her sister Rhea English, Boulder, CO; and sister-in-law Nina (David) Delorme, Stillwater, MO. Estelle is also survived by several nieces and nephews; grandchildren Jared and Jordan Garcia (Gregg), Kirk Gordon (Lori), Brittany and Corbett Knoff (Lisa), Leigh Garcia, Ashley Keplin, Kayla Brunelle (David), Kateri (Kirk), and 9 great grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial for Estella will be held Monday, August 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church, St. Michael, ND with Father Paul Schuster celebrating the Mass.

The Rosary Service will be held at St. Michael’s Church on Sunday, August 18^th at 7:00 pm.  The procession to St. Michael will leave on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. from the Leevers South Parking Lot.