Walter Demarais formerly of Red Lake Falls died January 1, 2003 in Vancouver WA. He was born June 12, 1903 in Red Lake Falls to Philip and Anna (Vaudrin) Demarais. He attended rural country schools and graduated from St. Josephs High School. He attended St. Johns University at Collegeville, MN.

He married Doris Ann Premo at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Brooks, MN on April 9, 1929. He farmed in the Brooks and Red Lake Falls area for a short while before working for Ford Motor Company in part sales in NW Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota. He retired from Westlie Motors in Camas Washington after a long career in automobile parts sales. The family lived in Red Lake Falls, Grand Forks, ND, and Carrington, ND and for the last 41 years in Washington state.

Mr. Demarais was active in the Farmers Union while in Red Lake Falls and in St. Joseph Catholic Church where he sang in the choir. He and Doris parented 13 children and he traveled on business extensively. Throughout his career he received various distinguished honors of accomplishment from Ford Motor Company. He visited Red Lake Falls often and enjoyed visiting with his family and friends in the area.

Mr. Demarais was instrumental in assisting Virgil Benoit of AFRAN in the composition of some historical documents of early French settlers and their families in Red Lake County. He has had some of the French songs sung by him recorded. He was proud of his French ancestry and loved Red Lake Falls and Red Lake County.

Throughout his life he was involved in the Catholic faith sing in the choir of the parish he was attending. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus. He was the past Grand Knight of the St. Thomas Council of Camas WA and was the state chairman for Pennies for Seminarians , a project to promote vocations to the priesthood in the state of Washington.

He loved to sing and was always the lead singer in the family gatherings and has left his family with a rich appreciation and love of music. He enjoyed playing cards and fishing and spent many summers in Minnesota, at Lake of the Woods, Upper Red Lake at Waskish MN and at Maple Lake near Mentor MN. He also enjoyed woodworking and doing carpentry projects.

Walter was a very good storyteller and remembered his family heritage. In 1984 when the Demarais family had their family reunion in Red Lake Falls, Mr. Demarais led his family and grandchildren to every place of historical significance to him in Red Lake County. He recently completed the writing of the biography of his life.

Survivors include his daughters: Dolorose (Ronald Sr.) Bushy, Mesa AZ and Maple Lake at Mentor MN, Jane (Al) Wagner, Vancouver, WA, Henedine (Don) Stewart, Hartsburg, MO, Colleen (Gene) Fish, Boise, ID, Marry Fisher, Vancouver WA, Geraldine (Ed) Chasse, Vancouver, WA.. His sons include, Joseph (Barbara), Mesa AZ, John B (Jean) Gloucester, VA, James (Candy), Avondale, AZ, Thomas, Cornelius, OR and Gregory Demarais of Vancouver, WA. Thirty-eight grandchildren and 52 great grandchildren survive him. His sister, Dulice Davis of Red Lake Falls, MN survives him along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his wife Doris, his daughter Lois Ann and son Gerald Victor, his granddaughter Thierry Bushy Siry and his sisters, Agnes, Leah and Wilmae and brothers, George, Willard and Omer.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Vancouver on Thursday, January 9th, 2003 and another Memorial Mass will be held at St. Josephs Church in Red Lake Falls, this summer. Burial will be at St. Josephs Cemetery in Brooks. Arrangements by Hamilton & Mylan Funeral Service of Vancouver WA and the Johnson Funeral Service of Red Lake Falls.