Velma Bruce, age 82, of Belcourt, ND passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at Quentin Burdick Memorial Health Care Facility, Belcourt, ND.

Velma Ann Bruce (LaVallie) was born on March 8, 1941 to Mary (Amyotte) and Alfred LaVallie Sr.  She was the second to youngest girl in the family out of 10 siblings.  Velma attended boarding school at Wahpeton and Flandreau in her early years.  During her years in Flandreau, she would meet Gene Bruce Sr.  They would later unite in marriage on May 29, 1960.  Together they had seven children, Russell (Patsy) Bruce, Allen Bruce Sr., Roderick Bruce Sr., Sheila (Melvin) Nadeau, Ramona (Chris) Greene, Gene Jr. (Stephanie) Bruce, and Alberta (Jesse) Short.  They would divorce later on and Velma never remarried.  She moved to Moorhead, MN and attended Moorhead Technical College to become a chef.  She also worked as a housekeeper in various places.  Velma moved back to Belcourt for a while and returned to Moorhead a few times before retiring and staying in her hometown.  She was employed at the casino after moving back to Belcourt.

Velma had a large family which she loved and cherished very much.  She had many grandchildren, Marie, James, Jackie, Jeffery, Suzanne, Allen Jr., Toni, Roderick Jr., Ryan, Isaiah, Craig, Wrangler, Amber, Brittany, Kristine, Ariel, Melvin Jr., Johnathan, Jasmine, Mersadi, Trevor, Isaac, Dalton, Kobe, Kristen, and Trenton; numerous great grandchildren; two Godchildren, Mike Champagne and Gregg W. LaVallie.

Velma will always be remembered by her loving and kind nature and her blunt truth telling.  She would tell it like it is, especially in her later years.  Her grandkids will always remember her "special story time" of course, when they were old enough to hear it.

Velma is reunited with her parents, daughter, Sheila, brothers, Gregory, Alfred Florenstein, Lawrence, sister, Grace, ex-husband, Gene Bruce Sr., and two granddaughters, Lacy Nadeau and Jessa Short.

Readers are Amber Houle and Ariel Nadeau.  Urn Bearers are all grandsons.  Eucharistic Gifts by Brittany Nadeau and Jasmine Sapa.  Music by David Blake Azure, Craig Lunday, and Jerry Parisien.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, November 14, 2022 at 10:00 AM at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Belcourt, ND with visitation beginning at 8:00 AM and Rosary Service at 9:00 AM led by Toni Bruce prior to the funeral mass.  Burial will follow in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, Belcourt, ND.  Father Fred Alexander presiding.  A meal will follow burial in the church.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.