Martin J. “Chib” Azure, 92 of Devils Lake, ND slipped away
peacefully with the support of his wife Laura and children at his home on Sunday
morning, January 8, 2012.
Mass of Christian Burial for Chib will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012 at
10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Charles Leute O.P.
will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.
Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake
Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.
Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on
Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at
7:30 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus and Honor Guard by
the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Visitation on Friday will be at the church
one hour prior to the funeral Mass.
Serving as Casket Bearers for Martin will be his sons Scott Azure, Tim Azure,
Pete Azure and Lane Azure and grandsons Corey Azure, James Christianson, Alex
Azure and Taylor Azure. Honorary Bearers will be Martin’s Grandchildren and
Great Grandchildren. Reading the Scriptures will be Scott Azure and Tim Azure.
Gift Bearers will be Jill Keagan, Celine Azure, Jalyn Myhro and Callie Beth
Azure. Music will be provided by Donovan Foughty, soloist and Lynda Pearson,
organist.
Martin Joseph was born on March 17, 1919 in Belcourt, ND the son of Peter and
Virginia (Wilkie) Azure. In 1926, the family moved to Devils Lake where Chib
attended Washington Elementary School. In 1931, he attended a grade school in
Rapid City, SD that closed in 1933 so he completed his grade school education at
Sioux San Central School also in Rapid City. From 1936 to 1940 he attended
Flandreau Vocational School and graduated as a master mason and journeyman
carpenter. The government buses would pick the students up in the fall but
parents were responsible to pick their children up when school ended in the
spring while Martin was in school in Flandreau. Chib’s parents would pick him up
as they travelled, North Dakota, South Dakota and eastern Montana capturing and
breeding wild horses that were sold as they traveled. All transportation was
horse driven, they lived in Tipis and as Chib reported, it was a double Tipi in
the cold weather. Chib’s masonry career began in 1946 and he retired in 1972,
building many brick landmarks throughout North Dakota and the United States.
However, Chib continued to lay brick well into his 80’s.
Chib was drafted into the United States Army on June 25, 1941. During this
time he was a machine gunner, assigned to the ATS Transport Service, American
Star and arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii on Christmas Day, 1941 after volunteering
for service there after the Pearl Harbor Invasion. He held the ranks of Private
First Class, Gun Commander-coast artillery, Corporal and Sergeant for the
Military Police. Decorations and citations include: American Campaign Medal,
American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific
Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in December
of 1945, at Camp Beale, California with the rank of Sergeant, serving with the
9206th Technical Service Unit. After his discharge he worked as a truck driver
to earn enough money to purchase the 1946 Harley Davidson motorcycle which he
rode back to Devils Lake.
In 1946, Martin learned to fly airplanes using the GI bill. His instructor’s
at the time were Dan Wakefield Sr. and Bob Strawhaker. He received his pilot
license and continued to hold it until his death. Chib tells the story of the
time he hunted fox by airplane with Wayne Riggin. Between the two of them they
bagged 275 fox. Chib and Wayne presented their kill to the county auditor to
collect $3.00 bounty on each pelt.
On November 4, 1948 he married Laura Rondeau in Devils Lake where they lived,
worked and raised their children. In the summer, Chib worked as a mason
throughout North Dakota and in the winter month’s he worked as a mechanic at
Bert’s Deep Rock. In 1974, Chib and Laura moved to Toppenish, Washington where
Chib worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs until 1980 when he transferred to
Indian Health Service, Fort Yates, North Dakota until his retirement in 1982 as
a Facilities Engineer. Chib and Laura moved back to Devils Lake at that time.
Chib was a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe. He was
inducted into the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers in
1948. He was an Elks Lodge member, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
#756 since 1942, honorary 3rd degree Knights of Columbus member at Toppenish and
4th Degree Knights of Columbus and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Chib’s hobbies were many. He loved the outdoors and was very athletic so
enjoyed many activities including hunting, snow skiing and gardening. He was an
avid stock car racer and frequently built his own cars. Chib loved to putz in
his garage.
A loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle,
father-in-law and friend-that was Chib. His memory will live on through his
children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. The stories he shared with
the citizens of Devils Lake, will be echoing through the halls of the many
buildings he visited for many years to come.
Chib is survived by his wife Laura of 63 years; his daughters Lynette Azure
of Devils Lake, LeAnn (Neil) Christianson of Billings, Montana and Simone
(Therese Wos) Azure of Chicago, Illinois; sons Scott Azure of Toppenish, Tim
(Carrie) Azure of Sisseton, SD, Pete (Marilyn) Azure of Grand Forks and Lane
(Shannon) Azure of Devils Lake as well as surrogate father to Corey Azure of San
Diego, California; eighteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Chib was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Roy Azure, Frank Azure
and Raymond Azure and sisters Caroline Brown and Mary Azure.
