Betsy's Family kindly requests that NO flowers be sent to the service.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Antoinette Laverdure-McDougall, Waabadoseikwe (Walks Far Woman), age 64, of Waubun, Minnesota, began her journey to the other side camp on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in Spokane, Washington.

Betsy was born on September 5, 1961, to Andrew "Sonny" and Elizabeth "Betty" (Wilkie) Laverdure at the Community Hospital in Rolette, North Dakota. She spent her early years with her family in Belcourt, ND and shared a special closeness with her grandmother, Elizabeth "Betsy" Davis, with whom she spent much of her childhood. As a boarding school survivor, her experiences throughout her life helped shape the strong-hearted woman, educator, advocate, mentor, and helper she would become. Betsy graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in 1979, where she served as president of her class and captain of the tennis team. She continued her education at the University of North Dakota and earned her PhD in Education in 1998. Continuing her lifelong dedication to learning, Betsy returned to college and earned an additional Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Bay Mills Community College in 2021. On September 2, 1994, Betsy married James "Jim" McDougall in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Betsy and Jim shared 27 years of marriage and eventually made their home on the White Earth Reservation, where they had a cabin on Strawberry Lake. Almost everyone in Betsy's family has a story of Strawberry Lake. There was food, fishing, campfires, swimming, visiting, laughing, and simply being together. The cabin became a place of reprieve and belonging, built on Betsy and Jim's love and commitment to family. They kept that special place until Jim walked onto the other side camp, cherishing every minute they were given there together, sharing it with their friends and family.

Betsy was a member of the Bear Clan, a pipe carrier, and Midewiwin. She began walking that path with those in the lodge in Ponemah, alongside her baby brother, Michael Laverdure. Her spiritual life was deeply influenced by her mother, Betsy Migizikwe, who was a cornerstone in Betsy's life and teachings. From her mother, Betsy learned how to be Oshkaabewis—a helper to others. It was a teaching she did not simply speak about; it became the way she lived.  Betsy loved sharing what she had learned and carrying those teachings forward. She had many beloved godchildren and we'eh's, including Maya Laverdure, Nicholas Counts, Charlotte Laverdure, Madeline Laverdure, and Dixie Dorman. One of Betsy's final requests was to have a Midewiwin ceremony as she crossed over to the other side camp.

Betsy dedicated her professional life to American Indian education, early childhood development, and the strengthening of Tribal communities. Her relationship with Head Start was especially meaningful because her story with the program began when she herself was a child. In 1965, Betsy was among the first generation of children to experience Head Start on her reservation. What began with Betsy as a little girl participating in Head Start became a lifelong commitment to ensuring that generations of Native children and families would have strong, culturally responsive programs of their own. Throughout her career, Betsy served in many significant leadership roles such as a Tribal College President, Academic Dean, Head Start Director and Grantee and Program Specialist serving American Indian and Alaskan Native programs. Her knowledge of program design, management, fiscal operations, early childhood education, and Tribal Head Start was extensive—those who knew Betsy understood her greatest contribution could never be measured by just a job title. Betsy entered Tribal communities as someone who understood the responsibility that comes with serving Native children and families. She listened. She taught. She challenged programs when they needed to grow. She encouraged leaders when the work became difficult. She shared what she knew freely, mentored those coming behind her, and built relationships that often lasted long after her official work was finished. Across Tribal Head Start programs, there are directors, teachers, staff members, parents, leaders, and former Head Start children whose lives are part of Betsy's legacy—even if they may never fully know how much of an influence she had. Every program she helped strengthen meant children were better served. Every director she encouraged could return to their community stronger. Every staff member she mentored carried that knowledge forward. Every Tribal program she helped navigate a difficult season could continue opening its doors to another generation of children and families. That is the reach of Betsy's life. Her work was never only about regulations, grants, program plans, or compliance. Behind every program were children. Behind every number were families. Behind every Head Start door was a Tribal community working to give its youngest people a strong beginning. Betsy understood that deeply. She traveled thousands of miles across Indian Country doing what she had been taught to do: be a helper. Along the way, colleagues became friends, and many became family. She mentored people who would become leaders themselves, leaving pieces of her knowledge, humor, strength, and teachings in communities throughout Indian Country.

Her spirit name, Waabadoseikwe—Walks Far Woman— could not have been more fitting. She walked far in distance, traveling from community to community, but she also walked far in the lives of others. The footprints she leaves behind can be found in Tribal Head Start classrooms, in the leaders she mentored, in the families whose programs became stronger because she showed up, and most importantly, in generations of Native children. Although Betsy began her final journey far from home in Spokane, Washington, she was not alone. She was surrounded by friends from her Head Start community who loved her deeply. Before her flight home, they gathered around her and held a small ceremony for her. It was fitting that members of the Head Start family she had spent so much of her life serving were there to help care for her as she began her journey home. Betsy loved them very much, and that love was reciprocal. Like her mother before her, Betsy was a strong-hearted woman who helped create change for Tribal communities. She worked hard throughout her life ensure that her children and grandchildren would not have to endure the hardships she had experienced. More than anything, she wanted her family to continue their education, complete college, live good lives, and carry themselves according to the Anishinaabe Seven Teachings: Honesty, Love, Courage, Truth, Wisdom, Humility, and Respect.

Betsy wanted her family and friends to know that she was simply continuing along the path of life and traveling into a beautiful world where her husband, relatives, and loved ones who went before her were waiting.

Her wish was that those who loved her would not only cry for her, but celebrate her and remember that she lived a good life.

And she did.

From a little Head Start girl in Belcourt to an educator who walked throughout Indian Country helping generations of Native children and families, Betsy's life came full circle.

Waabadoseikwe walked far.

She walked for her family.

She walked for her people.

She walked for Native children.

She walked beside Tribal communities.

And everywhere she walked, she left something behind for those who would follow.

Her journey continues now into the other side camp, while the teachings, relationships, programs, people, and children she strengthened carry her work forward.

Her footsteps are many, and they reach far.

Traditional Services will begin on Monday, August 10, 2026 at 5:00 pm at the White Earth Community Center, White Earth, MN, with a service at dusk (7:00 pm) and continue until the time of the service at 10:00 am on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Serving as pallbearers will be Neegonee Burnett, Douglas Gourneau, Kyle Hill, Kiinew LeDoux, Brett McDougall, and Farrell Morin. Her family kindly requests that NO flowers are sent to her service.

Besty's loving family members include her sons: Sebastian (Tracy) McDougall, Casey McDougall, Brett (Rachel) McDougall, and Phil Defoe; daughters: Elizabeth Laverdure, Dara McDougall, and Dixie Dorman; grandchildren: Noah McDougall, Landon McDougall, Ozaawaa Burnett, Neegonee Burnett, Brooke Dorman Defoe, Lilly Dorman Defoe, Linleigh McDougall, and Phaedra McDougall; brothers: Andrew (Wanda) Laverdure, Napoleon (Annette) Laverdure, Michael (Sheena) Laverdure, Wally Richard, and Harry Beauchamp; and her sisters:  Andrea (Robert) Laverdure, Julienne (Bill) Cross, Adrienne (James) Laverdure, and ReNae BearKing.

She was preceded in death by; Andrew "Sonny" Laverdure, Betty Migizikwe-iban Laverdure, James Ogima-Anikwadiban McDougall, and Xavier Laverdure.