Ludger Tougas, 74, of Oklee, MN died on Tuesday, May 22, 2001 at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN. Arrangements with Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2001 at 10:00 AM in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee, MN with Father Gary LaMoine Officiating. Burial will be held in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Brooks, MN.

Visitation will be held on Friday, from 5 " 8 PM with a 7:00 prayer service at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and also one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Ludger Nordel Tougas was born June 15, 1926 in Brooks, MN son of the late Florian and Eugenie (Giasson) Tougas. He attended country school near Brooks. He started helping on the family farm. On November 4, 1953 he was united in marriage to Joyce Dessellier at Oklee, MN. The couple primarily lived near Brooks and farmed until 1979 when they moved to Oklee. He also worked at American Crystal Sugar, Arctic Cat and various construction jobs. Ludger served in the US Army at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Following his honorable discharge he returned to farming.
He was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee, MN. He enjoyed fishing and his grandchildren were a great source of pride and joy.
Ludger is survived by his wife Joyce of Oklee, MN; sons Duane (Gloria) Tougas of Fargo, ND; Darrell (Sandra) Tougas of Oklee, MN; Donald (Lonna)Tougas of Strasburg, ND; Darrin Tougas of Alexandria, MN and Dean (Amy) Tougas of Strasburg, ND; daughters Deborah (Alan) Swanson of Goodridge, MN and Diane Bladow of Perham, MN. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 4 brothers Aurel (Aurora) Tougas of Paynesville, MN; Jerome (Mary) Tougas of Port Hueneme, CA; Ernest (Geraldine) Tougas of Red Lake Falls, MN and Philip Tougas of Milwaukee, WI: 3 sisters Alexina (Nap) Amiot of Crookston, MN; Cecelia Hunter of Denver, CO and Clarice Tougas of Denver, CO.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Arthur Tougas and Regis Tougas: sister Rollande Sebenaler: daughter Donna Tougas: granddaughter Paula Tougas: Sisters-in-law Sharon Tougas and Marcella Tougas: brother-in-law Robert Hunter.

ORGANIST: Barb Melby
SPECIAL MUSIC: Carolyn Rystad and Lori Melby
CASKET BEARERS: LeRoy Hruby, Michael Dessellier, Ronald Dessellier, Richard Tougas, Regis Amiot, Dale Sebenaler.