Mary Lou Allard, age 67, of Rolla, ND passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at Trinity Hospital, Minot, ND.

Mary Lou Allard was born on April 8, 1957 in Rolla, ND to William and Verna (Malaterre) Allard.  She attended St. Ann's Mission for elementary, two years of high school at St. Benedict Academy in Crookston, MM and completed her education at Rolla High School, graduating in 1975. She furthered her education at the University of Mary in Bismarck obtaining a Master's Degree in Elementary Education.  Mary Lou was united in marriage to Richard "Chopper" Houle on January 31, 1992 in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Together they had a daughter, Maria.   Together they had just celebrated their 32nd anniversary. She worked as a teacher for the North Dakota School for the Deaf in Devils Lake, Ojibwa Indian School in Belcourt, and lastly, Turtle Mountain Elementary, retiring in 2020.  Mary Lou enjoyed working on puzzles and was an avid reader. She liked watching the Hallmark Channel and NCIS.  She also liked being outdoors fishing, going to the casino, traveling, and playing bingo with her dad for quarters.  Faith and faith community were very important to Mary, where she found comfort and peace.  She found a home at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in St. John.  We knew not to call her during the nightly online Rosary which she faithfully participated. Mary Lou and Richard were a very loving and giving couple, opening their home to two foreign exchange students, Jose Gomez from Guatemala and Davide Paterlini of Italy. Mary was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, educator and treasured friend.  Mary stuggled with illness and received the life-saving gift of a liver transplant at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in 1996. She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.

Mary Lou is survived by her loving husband, Richard "Chopper" Houle of Rolla; daughter, Maria (Tyler) Zappone of Minot; step-children, Michael Houle of Jamestown and Diana (Taryn) Steck-Houle of Bismarck; grandson, Jameson Peacock of Bismarck; father, William Allard of Rolla; siblings, Terry Welch of Soldotna, Alaska, Tim Allard of Seattle, Washington, and Tom (Christina) Allard of St. John; and nieces and nephews.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her mother, Verna Allard, grandparents, Alfred and Cecelia Allard and Louis B. and Alice Malaterre and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, St. John, ND with a visitation beginning at 8:00 AM and Rosary Service at 9:00 AM prior to the funeral mass.  Father Richard Fineo presiding.  A burial will take place at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Rolla. All are welcome to attend a meal following funeral services in the church basement to honor the life of Mary Lou.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.