Elaine Marie Jourdain-Mino’ode “Good Heart women” was born March 1, 1944 in Red Lake to Anna Beaulieu Richey and George Richey, Sr.  One of 16 siblings she was raised in Red Lake where she attended St Mary’s Mission school.  She was married to Floyd Jourdain, Sr. in 1960, and together they had seven children.  Elaine was good natured, friendly and throughout her lifetime made hundreds of friends in Red Lake and throughout Indian country.  She loved spending time with her children, and many grandchildren.  She loved to cook and was a graduate of the Northwest Technical College Chef’s program.  She went on to work at both the Red Lake High School and Bemidji High Schools where she was employed as a cook until her retirement.

     She was an avid reader, and music lover.  Her teenage Idol was Elvis Presley.  She grew up in an era of bobby socks and ducktails where the girls were in love with him and all the boys wanted to be like him.  Back then she and many others would gladly take the 10 mile walk to the Redby theatre and back to watch Elvis on the big screen.  She was a wealth of knowledge, and she never forgot a friend or relative’s birthday.  She took pride in the accomplishments of her children, and grandchildren. Her lesson to her children was, “Be good to each other, and help people when you can.”  She came from a pow wow family where at some point in their lives everybody danced or sang.  She took pride in watching all her relatives in the pow wow circle.

     She is preceded in death by her parents; George and Anna Richey, her siblings; Marion, Florence, Patricia, Richard, Charles, John, Michael, Thomas, Georgianna, Charlene, and Pete,  three grandchildren; Waylon Desjarlait, Chase Jourdain and Daniel Warner, two nieces; Kathy Richey, and Theresa Yellow and two nephews; Patrick Adams, Jr. and John Thunder.

     She is survived by her children; Georgianna Jourdain, Patricia Perkins, Floyd (Gina) Jourdain, Jr., John Jourdain, Susan Jourdain, Wendy (Bill) McCarthy, Willa Jourdain, 32 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, her brothers; George and William Ritchey, and sisters; Geraldine Bombay, and Julianna Williams.

     A wake for Elaine will begin at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 19th at the New Little Rock Community Center in Red Lake, MN and continue until her 1:00 p.m. service on Thursday, September 21st at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Red Lake, MN.  Father Jerry Rogers will officiate.  Pallbearers for Elaine will be John Jourdain, Ralph “Bill” Thunder, Arlen Jourdain, Michael Fasthorse, Laurs Bryan Williams, William McCarthy III, Marvin Yellow, Jr. and Louis Jourdain.  Alternate pallbearers are Solomon Desjarlait, Joseph Perkins, Casey McCarthy, Anthony Fasthorse, Phillip Jourdain, Edward May and Aaron May.  Her honorary pallbearers are all her grandchildren, Robert Thunder, Sr., Herbert Thunder, Terry Adams, Walter Jourdain, Patrick Desjarlait, Sr., Roy Anderson, Robert May, David Desjarlait, Shirley Jourdain, Rose Jourdain, June Maxwell, Gail Kingbird, Julianna Williams, Geraldine Bombay, Rita Wiese, Kathy Jourdain, Stephanie Williams, Donna Williams, Pamela May, Michaela Richey, Marion Yellow, Debra Adams, Adelma Adams, Anna Heine and Brenda Tarnow.  Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at Red Lake, MN following her services.

Elaine’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker.  Online condolences may be left at www.northernpeace.com