Gayl Lamoureux

Gayl Lamoureux(Bedard)

Dec 2, 1938 - / March 28 2026

Gayl Lamoureux (Bedard) is the eldest of 7 kids of Rene and Hope Bedard, which gave her the privilege of the having only private bedroom in the Bedard household. Her siblings were sister Lynne, twin sister and brother Nicole and Nikki, and triplets Jean, Jim, and Juay.

She grew up and graduated from High School in Dunseith, North Dakota and attended one year of business college in Bottineau, North Dakota. Gayl married a young local hot-rodder, Jay Lamoureux, in 1956. They had four children: Donald, Joni, Cary, and Brian.

Gayl had a lifelong love of horses. She always had to have at least two, so they each had a pal, as well as, numerous dogs and cats. It was not unusual to have a dog or two trailing her and Cousin Nancy on horseback rides. She was active in participant in summer horse shows, proud of a spirited Arabian she had, even after he showed his appreciation by kicking the horse trailer ramp down and breaking her ankle.

One year, Jay took considerable time to build a horse-drawn sleigh. After the first good snow, not having a harness trained horse, she used another riding horse, Digo, who for an instant appeared to cooperate, but then decided he did not like the arrangement at all, and tried to ditch that apparition behind him. The sleigh made a nice outdoor Christmas arrangement, after that.

Christmas in Dunseith was a literal Mount Everest of Christmas treats. Everything learned from Grandma Hope Bedard and Aunt Lenore Lamoureux had to be prepared, and in quantity: gingerbread boys, krumkake, sugar cookies, fudge, divinity, Russian teacakes, spiced nuts, wax candy - it all had to be made, presumably enough for parties and visitors, enough to last until Easter.

While managing four kids, Gayl worked at the Dunseith Clinic for a number of years, then took an administrative position at Dunseith High School.

She was very independent, a trait which surfaced when she took a liking to a loaner car, a blue Mustang for sale at Lamoureux Brothers Oil Company. She mentioned to the owner (Jay) that she wanted to keep the car. His response was something to the effect; if you want it, buy it, thinking he had put an end to that nonsense. A short walk across the street to Security State Bank, a chat with Allen Campbell, Bank President, and a loan later, she crossed the street again to purchase the Mustang. (What could he do?) He already told her what she needed to do if she wanted it.

She later used that car to “surprise” the kids coming back from Rugby school shopping, when she drove the car off Dead Man’s curve unto an all but invisible gravel road, much to the screams of the kids whose brief lives passed before their eyes. For the most part, the kids didn’t cause too much trouble, only one instance could be recalled when the wooden spoon of justice came into play, not sure how many troublemakers were supposed to be dealt with, but the flimsy spoon failed on the first attempt and mom lost the resolve to re-arm. One other time, on the eldest, the dreaded “go to your room and wait for your father to get home”, also a one-off instance.

In 1975, Jay and Gayl decided to trade winter wonderland and summer June berries for desert sand and cactus, moving to Wickenburg Arizona. They purchased a women’s clothing boutique and ran it together. Women’s clothing was not exactly up Jay’s alley, so he converted that to a furniture store. Gayl went to work for a dude ranch called The Wickenburg Inn, where she managed the Inn’s clothing and jewelry store for a number of years. She remained an active horse rider, participating in the Los Damas riding club.

They relocated to Chino Valley Az, where Gayl obtained an insurance license, opened her own insurance office and Jay purchased The Waffle Iron, a breakfast/lunch café. Upon Jay’s untimely passing in 1995, Gayl took on the responsibility of running the Waffle Iron and her insurance office, for several years, eventually retiring from insurance and running the Waffle Iron full time. Cousins Margaret and Nancy made a special trip from North Dakota to surprise her at the café for her 70th birthday, which was a total surprise and pleasure for her.

Gayl spent many years happily working in the Waffle Iron. She loved her employees and the many people who came into the restaurant. In 2021, Gayl sold the Waffle Iron and fully retired.

The family is grateful to the many family and friends who helped and supported her in her final years. She quietly passed on March 28.