Gregory Hildebrand LaVallie, son of Alfred C and Mary P (Amyotte) LaVallie, passed away at his home in rural Belcourt on Sunday August 1, 2021.  Gregory was born on March 5, 1935, he attended Chamberlain Boarding school until he enlisted in the Army in 1952.  Gregory served 5 years in the Army and was a Korean Conflict Veteran.  He married Elizabeth Champagne on December 26, 1957, they had 5 children, Alfred, Geneva Hunt, Darrell, RoxAnne Unabia, and Gregg.  He also has 9 surviving grandchildren, Stephanie Darrow, Kayla LaVallie, Jessica Hunt, Radlee LaVallie, Darrell LaVallie Jr, Ryann Unabia, Shantel Slater, Joseph Unabia and Sean Unabia and 3 great-granchildren, Cameron Anderson, Avi Darrow and Ares Unabia-Azure.

During his lifetime Gregory lived in Los Angeles, San Jose and Oakland California, Seattle Washington, Denver Colorado, Fargo, Grand Forks and Langdon ND.  He worked for Boeing Corporation as a management trainee, as a welder, construction, security and Tribal Chairman and District 3 Tribal Councilman.  While Chairman, Gregory was able to devise a means for the Tribal Council to receive a salary through the Bureau of Indian Affairs pilot program.  The Turtle Mountain Tribe was the first Tribal Council to contract this with the BIA.  Through this contract, Tribal planners were also hired to work on the retirement home, shopping center, remodeling of the old hospital to house Social Services for Rolette County and the BIA, purchase of the old convent, and planning for the radio station.   Other work begun under Gregory's leadership included the Turtle Mountain Community College and the INMED program (his appointees were Twila Martin Kekahbah and Vern Vallie). The first Tribal members enrolled in the program did return to work at Belcourt hospital.  He worked with Senator Young and Senator Burdick to start the rural water program in 1972.  He also worked with Louis Amyotte to bring the Atron plant back to the reservation for employment.

For people who knew Gregory, two of his passions were education and military service.  Even after he retired from working, he returned to school at NDSU.  He had previously attended Aakers Business College, UND and Bottineau College.  He always told his children and grandchildren to either enlist in the military and to go to college.  Whenever a Veteran returned home, he always tried to assist them with on the job training or direct hiring.

Gregory will be buried at St Ben's Catholic Church.   Visitation will be held on Friday August 6 ^th at 8:00 am, Rosary at 9:00 am and Mass at 10:00 am.  A meal will follow at the KC Hall in Belcourt.

Pall Bearers will be Gregory's grandchildren.  Honorary Pall Bearers are all nephews and nieces.  Readers will be June Unabia and Vern Vallie, Gift Bearers will be Margaret Champagne and Velma Bruce.  VFW Honor Guard will be present for the burial.

He will be missed by family, friends and community members.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.