Vince Wastweet, 85, Fargo, ND, formerly Gary, MN, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at the Fargo VA Health Care System, Fargo, ND.

Vincent Leroy Wastweet was born December 29, 1926, to Harry and Emma (Martinson) Wastweet near Fisher, MN. Vince was the 4th of 8 children. Vince was raised on a farm north of Crookston until the family moved in 1939, to a farm Northeast of Gary. He attended country school through 8th grade near Fischer, MN, and graduated from Gary High School in 1944. V

Vince began farming with his Dad, until he passed in July 1951. He was then drafted to serve in the Korean War in 1951, but received deferment for one year because his Dad died. He then left for the service October 1952. Vince stayed on in Korea and served until his discharge in 1954.

Vince returned to the family farm near Gary for a couple years following the war. He had corresponded with Mary Ann Hagford of Northeast Minneapolis while in the war and she was attending nursing school. In the fall of 1956, he moved to Minneapolis, where he worked for Sanitary Dairy as a milk delivery man. The couple was married on September 7, 1957, at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in Northeast Minneapolis.

In the summer of 1957, Vince began working as a driver for a mason contractor Axel Ohmann in Minneapolis. The couple built their home in Coon Rapids, MN in 1958. They had four kids while living there; Kathy, Terry, Russ and Todd.  The young family moved to the Wastweet family farm near Gary in February 1964, where they had four additional children; Sherry, Cindy, Ann and Julie.

In early years, Vince worked for Russell Krogstad as a carpenter building homes in Crookston. During their years on the farm Vince worked milking cows, raising cattle & hogs, grain farming among various jobs in the community; for Dennis Lindberg at Lakeland Seeds, TDS in Fertile. He was very active in serving the Lord at Sundal Lutheran Church over the years. Vince was also active in the Gary American Legion where he served as Commander and Financial Officer.

In 1987 two families from across the world merged at the Wastweet Farm and the family grew by three more beautiful Brazilian daughters: Viviana, Stefania and Melissa. Vince and MaryAnn were able to travel to Brazil in 1998 to visit them and their parents. They also traveled around the country in their retirement years visiting cherished friends and family. Playing Shanghai Rummy all along the way!

Vince's pride and joy are his 15 grand kids: Chris, Tom, Erik, Cassie, Kayla, Cami, Andrew, Kelsey, Brittany, Shelby, Jane, Claire, Alex, Jake, Josh.

Vince and MaryAnn moved to Edgewood Vista Senior Living in Fargo in January 2008.  Vince took Jesus' hand to go on to Glory on March 13, 2012.

Survived by his wife of over 54 years, MaryAnn (Hagford) Wastweet, Fargo, ND; sons Terry (Carol), Barnesville, MN; Russell, Fargo, ND; Todd, Gary, MN; son-in-law Peter Urseth, Minneapolis, MN; daughters Sherry Wastweet, Minneapolis, MN; Cindy (Todd) Kiester, Clinton, IA; Ann (Todd) Kukowski, Aitkin, MN; and Julie (Paul) Wilson, Bismarck, ND; 15 grandchildren; 3 sisters: Verla (Kenny) Johnson, Gary; Gladys Smith, Fertile; Janice (Richard) Koski, Fargo; 1 brother, Arlan (Carol), Audubon, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Emma (Martinson) Wastweet, daughter Katherine Urseth 2005; sisters: Elda Ranz, Evelyn Wastweet, and brother Alton Wastweet.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 11:00am at Sundal Lutheran Church, rural Gary, MN.
Visitation will be Friday, March 16th from 5-7 with a 6:30 Prayer Service at the Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Burial will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN on Monday, March 19th at 11:45am.