obituaries

Mar 7, 2018

Bette J. Gysland, 94, Ada, MN, died Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Benedictine Care Community, in Ada, MN.

Bette Jane Scherf was born February 17, 1924 to August and May (Huntly) Scherf in Ada, MN.  She was united in marriage to Rudolph O. Gysland. They mainly resided in Norman and Polk County where they raised their family....

Mar 6, 2018

Marcella Conlon, age 103, of Fargo, ND, formerly Mahnomen, MN, died Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at Elim Care Center, Fargo, ND, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Marcella F. Conlon "Marcie" was born January 26, 1915, in Mahnomen County, to Paul and Mabel (Bergquist) Obermiller. She grew up on the family farm, attending school in Mahnomen....

Mar 3, 2018

John D. Winters, 60, Twin Valley, MN, formerly of Fargo, ND, died Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Essentia Hospital, in Ada, MN.

Service arrangements are pending at this time.

Mar 2, 2018

Robert Nickaboine, age 78, of Waubun, MN, died Friday, March 2, 2018, at his home. Robert Lee Nickaboine, the son of Joseph and Delphine Riley, was born in White Earth, MN, on January 17, 1940. Robert, also known as "Bitty Boo", was raised in the Elbow Lake Village area and attended school in Waubun, MN. As a young man, Bob...

Feb 27, 2018

Carol Engen, age 79, of Gary, MN, died Tuesday, February 27, 2018, in her home. Carol Joan Ruud was born on January 4, 1939 to Henry and Annie (Kjeldson) Ruud in Wild Rice Township. As one of 11 children, Carol's love and appreciation for family started early in life. She attended school and graduated from Twin Valley High School with...

Feb 27, 2018

Shirley Jean (Balzum) Riley, 61, Ada, MN, died Tuesday, February 27, 2018, suddenly and peacefully in her home.

Shirley Jean Balzum was born August 3, 1956, to Ronald and Florence (Aarestad) Balzum in Ada. She attended school in Ada, graduating with the class of 1974. Shirley joined the United States Navy and retired after proudly serving for...

Feb 27, 2018

Mrs. Jeannette "Bess" Beauchane, 45, of Fertile, MN, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Bess was born on June 27, 1972, in Washington, NC, area and graduated from Washington High School in 1990. Bess married Chad Beauchane in 1992, and together they made their home in Fertile.

Bess graduated from...

Feb 24, 2018

Rose Saice, age 68, of Mahnomen, MN, died Saturday, February 24, 2018, at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home, Mahnomen, surrounded by family and under Hospice Care of the Red River Valley. Rosealy Ann (Casavan) Saice was born on June 30, 1949, the daughter of Zeno and Margaret (Ford) Casavan. Growing up she attended country school near Dorothy, MN, followed...

Feb 24, 2018

Ronald "Ronnie" Bestul, age 36, of Winger, MN, died Saturday, February 24, 2018, at his home. Ronald LeRoy Bestul, the son of LeRoy and Joyce (Askelson) Bestul, was born in Ada, MN, on February 16, 1982. He grew up, along with three older sisters, on a farm near Winger, MN. As a child, Ronnie was baptized and confirmed at Faaberg...

Feb 21, 2018

Sharon Askelson, age 78, died Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Villa Maria in Fargo, ND. Sharon Rae Gill was born on October 15, 1939 to Wayne and Willa (Newton) Gill in Fargo, ND. She graduated from Felton High School in 1957, and went on to graduate from Dakota Business College. Sharon married Clair Askelson on June 13, 1959; and the...

Feb 15, 2018

Leo William Riegert, the son of Joseph and Gertrude (Ebnet) Riegert, was born on October 11, 1932 in Minneapolis, MN. As a young boy, Leo moved with his family to the Mahnomen, MN area. Following grade school, he worked for Oak Crest and other area farms for a time before moving to the Iron Range, where, he always said, he...

Feb 13, 2018

Carol Mesker, age 72, of Ulen, MN, passed away peacefully on February 13th, 2018, in her home surrounded by loved ones after a brief battle with cancer. Carol Marie was born to Albert and Alma(Anderson) Kellen in Madison, MN on April 11, 1945 as the twelfth of 14 children. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith, and was...

Feb 9, 2018

David A. Soyring, age 76, of Waubun, MN, died Friday, February 9, 2018, at his home. David Arnold Soyring was born in White Earth, MN, on November 17, 1941, the son of David and Delia (LaGue) Soyring. He spent his youth in the Waubun area and cut his schooling short when he joined the United States Navy at the early...

Feb 8, 2018

James Blair Jr., also known as "Chief" age 73, of Greendale, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee, WI, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 8, 2018, in his home.

James D. Blair, the son of James and Patricia (Soukup) Blair, was born on December 3, 1944, in White Earth, MN.  James was united in marriage to...

Feb 3, 2018

Betty Lou Peterson, 90, Halstad, MN, died Saturday February 3, 2018, at River Pointe Assisted Living, Moorhead, MN, after a brief illness.

Betty Lou was born November 2, 1927, the fourth daughter and eighth child to Henry and Selma (Stundahl) Smith on a farm near Galesberg, ND. When she was eight years old the family moved to...

Feb 2, 2018

Lucille Mary Gish, 85, died at the Mahnomen Assisted Living Center on February 2, 2018. Lucille Mary (Andring) Gish was born May 7, 1932, daughter of Raymond and Gertrude (Martin) Andring, on the family farm in Waukon Township, Norman County, MN. As a young child, she attended the Cheerful Country School through eighth grade. Lucille then attended Mahnomen High School...

Feb 1, 2018

Keith Richotte, the infant son of Thomas and Tiana Richotte, died suddenly on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Keith Kennedy Richotte was welcomed into the world by his parents, Thomas and Tiana Richotte, on March 15, 2017. From birth, Keith was a happy, snuggly, loving baby. From an early age, he learned to show his love and as he grew this...

Jan 26, 2018

Harriet Merkins, 86, of Ada, MN, died Friday, January 26, 2018 at Banner-Baywood Medical Center, Mesa, AZ, after a brief illness.

Harriet "Doodie" Ione Merkins was born on February 16, 1931 at the family farm near Hendrum, MN to Hans and Isabel (Brooks) Rockstad. Harriet was baptized, confirmed and married at Concordia Lutheran Church, rural Hendrum, MN. ...

Jan 24, 2018

Jane Tibbetts, age 82, of Ogema, MN, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at the Emmanuel Nursing Home, Detroit Lakes, MN. Jane Maureen Clark was born June 27, 1935, to Michael and Alice (Heisler) Clark in White Earth, MN. Her early childhood years were spent attending Kay's Corner School in White Earth, MN, followed by high school in Waubun....

Jan 23, 2018

JoDean Bower, age 38, of Ogema, MN, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. JoDean Marie Bower, the daughter of Orville and Rudella (Weaver) Bower, was born January 25, 1979, in Minneapolis, MN. Growing up she attended elementary school in the cities before moving to Waubun in the 5th grade. JoDean obtained her GED followed by attending the White Earth...