Dr. Bruce Montplaisir, 78
Dr. Bruce Montplaisir, age 78, of Onamia, Minn., passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025.
Bruce Montplaisir was born in Fargo N.D., on April 3, 1947. His parents were Henry and Jennet (Larum) Montplaisir. Bruce was the eighth of Henry and Jennet’s 12 children. The family lived in Horace, N.D., at the time.
Bruce graduated from Kindred, N.D., High School in 1965, attended Moorhead State University, graduated from the State University of New York with degrees in mathematics and physics in 1971, obtained a master’s from NDSU in Fargo in 1975 and his doctorate from UND in Grand Forks in 1980. His career included four years as a teacher, four years as a high school principal and 31 years as a superintendent of schools.
Bruce was a paratrooper and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict as a communications expert with Company F 51st Infantry and with Company F 75th Rangers, both were long-range recon units.
In 1971, Bruce married Mary Beth Eunice Carlson of Evansville, Minn. They had four children: Derrick (Sarah), Jennifer Smart, Henry and Korey (Rose). Bruce and Mary Beth have nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
At the time of his retirement in 2011 Bruce was on the board of directors of seven different nonprofit organizations. Community service has always been an important part of his life. These boards did not include almost 20 years as a volunteer EMT. One of his greatest honors was serving as the district governor for District 5M1 Lions Clubs International.
During his last years Bruce had many people help him get to medical appointments and take care of Mary Beth when he was not able to be there or just to give him a break from being a 24-hour a day seven days a week caregiver. Bruce’s goal has been to make life a little bit better for those he encountered during his life.
He is survived by: his brothers, Ronnie (Linnea), and Michael (Wendy); sisters, Karen (Rick) Chase, Rosie (Tom) Seaburg and Linda (Mike Schwab) See; his children, nine grandchildren; and two-great grandchildren.
Bruce was pre-deceased by: his parents, Henry and Jenette; and his wife of 52 years, Mary Beth; siblings, David, Jerome, Richard, Katherine, Edward and Ellenor.
A visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with Father Jerry Schik officiating. Lunch will be provided after Mass in the Holy Cross community room. Interment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls, Minn. Arrangements are with the LeMieur Funeral Home in Onamia.
