LeRoy "Pudge" Beaudoin

LeRoy T. “Pudge” Beaudoin, 87, Bismarck, passed away on November 18, 2019. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, November 26, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck with Dennis Sailer officiating.

LeRoy was born on November 5, 1932 in Dickinson, ND, the son of Joe and Hannah (Booke) Beaudoin. He graduated from Dickinson High School in 1951 and attended Dickinson State Teacher’s College.

Pudge married the love of his life, Jacquelin “Jackie” Thomas on December 28, 1953. They raised four children in Dickinson where Pudge owned the Main Bar. They lived in Jamestown from 1970 until 1975 while Pudge managed the Jamestown Elks. In 1975 they moved to Bismarck and he managed the Bismarck Elks Lodge for more than 30 years.

Pudge loved athletics and was a standout athlete in high school and college where he played basketball and football. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Dickinson State University.

After college he officiated basketball and football games with his sidekicks – “Teddy Bill” Uecker and Jack Brown. He was inducted into the North Dakota Official’s Hall of Fame and was also a recipient of the Roger Higgins Award for his dedicated service to athletics in the Bismarck/Mandan community.

Pudge loved managing the Elks and everything it stood for. He served as Exalted Ruler in 1986-87. He and Jackie’s lives were enriched by the friendships made at the Elks. The grandkids thought he “owned” the Elks – and so did he!

If he wasn’t at the Elks, he was looking for a buddy to fish with or in the card room at the Elks playing Gin Rummy. Pudge worked hard and played hard and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Pudge is survived by his son, Douglas (Renee), Tampa, FL; daughter, Lisa (Rob) Bollinger, Eagan, MN; son, Michael (Kathy), Medora, ND; and daughter Jill and her partner Steve Milisits, Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Ryan Beaudoin, Brie Pulas, Brittany Taylor, Brooks Bollinger, Lauren Bollinger, Hayley McFarland, Michael Bollinger, Brandon Beaudoin, and Chivas Rood; 20 great-grandchildren; brother, Kenny; and three sisters, Arvella Holder, Marge Gunderson, and Diane Meyers.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jackie; sisters, Dorothy Pfau, Jeanette Giles, LaVonne Zeren, Marlease Bogner; brothers, Lester, Lorne, Wally, Floyd, and Tommy.  

To share memories of Pudge and to sign the online guestbook, go to www.parkwayfuneral.com.