Leon F. Dubourt

Leon F. Dubourt, 82, of Walhallla, ND passed away peacefully, with his family, Saturday, January 23, 2016 in Grand Forks, ND. A private family service will be held on Friday, January 29, 2016 at the Nelson-Askew Funeral Home in Walhalla. Friends are invited to join the family from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 29th at the Walhalla Lutheran Church for a time of remembrance of Leon's life. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Walhalla Airport Authority or the Gorge Arts and Heritage Council of Walhalla.
Leon Frederick Dubourt was born May 24, 1933 to Leon A. and Sarah (Holwell) Dubourt. He grew up on a farm two miles east of Leroy, ND. Leon attended the East Leroy School and graduated from Walhalla High School in 1951. He attended college at NDAC in Fargo, Mayville State, Ventura Jr. College in California, graduating from UND in 1956.
He married Joyce Rutherford in 1952 and they had seven children.
In 1960, he began his banking career as part owner of the Walhalla State Bank in Walhalla, ND. He was very active in community development. Leon served as mayor of Walhalla and was on the Board of Directors for the construction of the Walhalla Clinic. Other business accomplishments include creation of the ethanol plant originally known as Dawn Enterprises and the Walhalla Bean Company. In recent years, he was instrumental in the merger and creation of the Choice Financial Group and served on the Board of Directors. He was very involved in the support and maintenance of the Walhalla Airport Authority and was in partnership with Robert Thornberg and the development of Sweet Pro products.
In 1986, he married Geraldine Charbonneau Soli and the families blended with her two daughters.
Leon had an appreciation for politics, history, aeronautics, gardening, reading and art.
Survivors include his wife, Gerri; children: Dawn (Duane) Schurman, Babette (Brian) Jones, Jocelyn (Brad) Sherwood, Renee Barry, Wendy (Jeff) Herman, Jaime (Joe) Deck; daughter-in-law, Shelly Dubourt; step-children: Rachelle (Joe) Barton and Sabrina (Francis) Lafferty; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his son, Douglas Leon Dubourt; best friend, Gyro; and family members: Paul Dubourt, Alice Strand, Jane Urseth, Antionette Eliason, Beatrice Huot, Bertha Urseth, Helen Dame, Dorothy Eppler, Bernice Gorman, Cheryl Gorman.
A special thank you from the Dubourt family to Dr. Hanna for his support, and to the nursing staff at Altru Hospital.