PROFILE OF CELINA ROBILLARD
Article taken from the Grafton newspaper
Celina Crossitier was born in a log house on a farm east of Bottineau on May 10, 1891. She was the sixth child in a family of 10 children. Her parents came from Quebec, Canada and homesteaded at Bottineau, ND, which was a brand new state when she was born. It was quite primitive with living conditions where everything needed to be done in order to survive. There were no conveniences.
Celina attened small one room school about one and a half miles from home. Of course, she walked the distance daily. She had to help at home when she was in forth grade so her formal education came to an end.
The church the family attened was in the wide open spaces about three miles from her home. It was in the same town where there was a small conveniece store, post office and the rectory. The family thinks the name is now non-existent.
Her mother died when Celina was a very young girl and her father remarried later and life with a stepmother and her children from a former marriage was pleasant for her and two sisters. Celiina and George were married July 8, 1908 in the Catholic Church in Tarsus, ND. She was 17 years old. They farmed in the Bottineau area for a few years and then moved to the Walhalla area. Times were hard and she and her family had to do without many things. They didn't have much, but they had each other and 10 children. Even though they had very little money, no one went hungry and they were a happy family. To this day the family all say no one makes rice soup, baked beans, the "French" meat pie (Tourtiere) and Ragout (Stew) like mother did.
George was disabled with one leg shorter than the other. He always wore a "built up" shoe with a three inch heel. This did not bother him as far as work was concerned. However, the children had great compassion on him and would help out in numerous ways, especially with things that were more difficult to do. They farmed for a living during their first years, but later left the farm when George worked as a carpenter and other means of labor.
A very good-natured person, Celina would enjoy laughter with her children. They would tease her about her maiden name of Crossitier, saying it sounded "Cross-eyed" Steer. They had many good times together.
Celina and her husband moved many times, but she always had a huge garden which provided them with good fresh vegetables and friut, with enough left to can a large supply for the winter. They also had chickens and pigs. These were canned with other meats and the pork was salted in a brine. Lots of berries were picked for sauce and jellies for the whole year.
Clothes were washed on a washboard with water heated on the wood range in the kitchen. The Sad irons were heated on the range for ironing the clothes, while baking bread in the oven to utilize all the heat produced at one time. There was no waste allowed. The treadle sewing machine produced the children's clothing during the leisiure hours with the harnmious movement of the foot. All material were used no matter how tiny a piece of cloth as each found its place in a quilt after it was not able to be used in other ways.
One of the happiest times in thier life was the 50th wedding anniversary of thier marriage in 1958. The children did a beautiful job having friends and relatives coming to the home of thier son William Robillard in Langdon. They came from Bottineau, Langdon, Olga, Walhalla and Grafton. The family gave Celina and George thier first Television set. They had many enjoyable hours from it. They especially liked Mr. Rogers.
Celina's greatest sorrow was losing a son, Richard, only 12 years old when he drowned. Another son Ernest 18 died during surgery for appendicitis and another son, Lawrence died very young. A daughter, Mabel died when she was only six years old. Another daughter, Alice Thompson died a year ago. The remaining five children are Bill Robillard, Langdon; Odell Robillard, Mountain; Maurice Robillard, Concrete; Isabel Bonaine, Sun Valley, CA; Amelia Thielbar, Langdon.
Celina has two sisters living, seven of her immediate family have passed on. A sister Alvina Goehring lives in Port Orchard, WA and Louise Teeter lives in Brenerton, WA.
George had a massive stroke making him bedridden for six years. He was in St. Joseph's Hospital, Grafton for some time after which he entered the Walhalla Home, being one of their first residents. He died July 4, 1966. In July 1978 plans were made for Celina to be in a home as she could not live alone anymore. The only home in the area that had an opening was the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton. She did not relish the thought of coming to Grafton, so far away from all her family. But when she arrived at LSH, she was given a very warm welcome and felt at home immediately.
Her hobbies of embroidery and crocheting kept her busy for many long hours. She took great pride in her work, and she was asked to enter some of her work at the Walsh County Fair and Potato Show, she was very pleased when she was presented with several first prize blue ribbons. All of her grandchildren have a pair of pillowcases made by Grandma.
Her family includes, 36 grandchildren, 102 great grandchildren and 16 great great-grandchildren. This lovely lady, still full of energy rides around the halls here in perhaps the smallest wheelchair made. She was 96 years on her birthday in May.




Celina Robillard, 96

Funeral services were held Thursday, September 24, 1987 for Celina Robillard, 96 of Grafton and formerly of Walhalla. Mrs. Robillard died Sunday, September 20, 1987, at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, where she had lived for the past nine years.
Funeral was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla with Father Bob Kelly officating. Music for the mass was by the St. Boniface choir and Mrs. Wilfred Gapp, organist. Interment was in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Olga. Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons, Wayne Robillard, Carl Robillard, Lawerence Thielar, Randy Bonaime, Gary Thompson and Willard Thompson. Ushers were her grandsons, Leo Robillard, Daryl Robillard and Roger Robillard.
Celina Crossitier was born May 10, 1891 on the family farm near Bottineau, ND the daughter of Joseph and Emilie (Seymour) Crossitier. She attened rural school near her home and then following the death of her mother, remianed to help at home. Celina and George Robillard were married July 8, 1908, at Tarsus, ND. They farmed in the Bottineau area for a few years and then moved to Walhalla, where George worked as a carpenter and other means of labor. George died July 4, 1966. She continued to live in Walhalla until entering the home in Grafton in 1978.
She is survived by three sons, William of Langdon, Odell of Mountain and Morris of Concrete; two daughters, Emelia Thielbar of Langdon and Mrs. Clarence (Isabel)0 Bonaime of Cherry Valley, CA; 36 grandchildren; 120 great grandchildren; 17 great great grandchildren; and two sisters, Alvina Goehring of ort Orchard, WA and Louise Teeter of Bremerton, WA.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sons, Richard, Ernest and Lawerence; daughters, Alice Thompson and Mabel Robillard; brothers, Joseph, Cyril and Louis; and sisters, Mary Segghers, Rose Crossitier, Georginna Theel and an infant sister.



SSDI Search Results
CELINA M ROBILLARD
SSN 502-66-5614
Residence: 58237 Grafton, Walsh, ND
Born 7 May 1891
Last Benefit:
Died 20 Sep 1987
Issued: ND (1969)

The town of Tarsus: This was a rural post office established September 14, 1886 witih Alexis Breault post master, in Lordsburg Twp., eight miles SE of Bottineau. The name is traced to the ancient city of Tarsus, Turkey, the birthplace of St. Paul, although the post offoce name came directly from the local Tarsus Catholic Church, completed in 1887. A small Village developed around the country store Joseph Trudel, and a population of 30 was reported in 1890. The village declined, and the post office closed January 31, 1920 with mail going to Bottineau.




MR. AND MRS. GEORGE ROBILLARD CELEBRATE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

Mr. and Mrs. George Robillard of Walhalla celebrated their golden wedding anniversary July 20, 1958 at the home of thier son and daughter -in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Robillard in Langdon, about one hundred relatives and friends attended.
A short program of readings and musical numbers was given by members of the family. Henry Schneider of Dunseith and Mrs. Harry Sautter of Williston presented to vocal numbers. Musical selections were played by thier granddaughters, Marlene and Beverly Robillard. Marlene also gave a reading. Raymond Cooper of Dunseith gave the honored couple's biography. Following the program their grandsons, Wayne Robillard and Willard Thompson, presented the couple with thier gifts.
Cut garden flowers decorated the Robillard home. The three-tiered wedding cake, decorated in white and yellow rosebuds and green leaves and topped with a gold "50" and gold sprayed candelabra at either side, centered the reception table. Mrs Robillard wore a corsage of white carnations and Mr. Robillard had a carnation boutonniere, sent to them by thier daughter, Mrs. Clarence Bonaime of Reseda, CA. Mrs Harry Sautter of Williston, neice of the bridegroom, cut and served the wedding cake. Mrs. Louise Teeter of Port Orchard, WA sister of the bride, poured. A sixo'clock supper was served to the family.
Mr. and Mrs. Robillard were married in Bottineau July 20, 1908 and lived there until 1920 when they came to Cavalier County. They later moved to Walhalla where they have since resided. Six children were born to them. They are William of Langdon, Mrs Wellington Thompson (Alice) of Hannah, Mrs. Clarence Thielbar (Emelia) of Olga, Odell of Wales, Morris of Clyde and Mrs Clarence Bonaime (Isabel) of Reseda, CA. They have thirty-one grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Mrs Thielbar and Mrs. Bonaime were unable to be present for their parents' anniversary. Guest from a distance included Mrs. Louise Tetter and Mrs. Roy Goehring of Port Orchard, WA. and Mr. and Mrs. August Seghers of Tribune, Sask.