All Obituaries

Elmer Bjorlie was born on January 30, 1926 and passed into eternity on October 13, 2021 at the NCHS Care Center in McVille, ND.  He was preceded in death by parents Peder & Laura (Quam) and by two brothers and their wives: Arnold (Lorena) and Seymour (Dorothy). He is survived by his wife of 34 years Brenda (Holt) and two step-children: Mary De’ (Tim) Hurr and Sheri Kay Gearhart (Keith Luckett).  Also surviving are his first wife, Liv (Lundeby) and five children: Peter...

Brian A. Estvold, age 61, formerly of Lakota, ND, died Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in Moorhead, MN. Brian Arthur Estvold was born December 1, 1959 in Grand Forks, ND, the son of Kenneth and Esther (Knutson) Estvold.  He was raised on the family farm in Rubin Township of Nelson County, ND.  He was educated in Lakota, where he graduated high school in 1979.  He then worked road construction and also farmed for a short time.  Brian also worked for a beekeeper in Texas, then...

Darlene H. Alfson, age 72, resident of rural Binford, ND, died Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND, surrounded by her family.  Faith and family were the cornerstones of her life. Darlene Harriet Enstad was born June 8, 1949 at McVille, ND, the daughter of Harold and Virginia (Werle) Enstad.  She was raised in Pekin, ND, and graduated from Tolna High School.  She married Fred Briss on March 18, 1967 at Pekin Lutheran Church.  They resided in...

Audrey I. Swanke, 92, died in Duluth, MN on September 30, 2021 surrounded by loving family. She was born on April 3, 1929 in Nash Township, Nelson County, ND to Herbert M. and Clara E. Drake.  Until the last three months she spent her entire life in North Dakota.  She was a proud North Dakotan. She attended elementary school in Petersburg and Michigan, ND and graduated from Lakota High School in 1947.  She married John A. Swanke in 1952 in Lakota.  They established...

Kip D. Christofferson, age 28, of Warwick, ND, died Thursday, September 30, 2021 at his home. Kip was born August 3, 1993 in Devils Lake, ND, the son of Monica Christofferson and Newlyn Littlewind.  He was raised near Warwick, was baptized & confirmed at Warwick Lutheran Church, and graduated from Dakota Prairie High School in 2011.  At age 14 he began working at Lundeby Evergreens, where he had worked for 8 years.  He then worked for Avdem Roofing and Ebertz...

Dennis Roger Winkler, age 82, of Lakota, ND, passed away Sunday, September 26, 2021 at the NCHS Care Center in McVille, ND. Dennis was born in Neche, ND, to Gustov and Hulda Winkler on February 22, 1939, the youngest of six children.  He attended Neche public schools and graduated from Mayville State University in 1960.  He married Janet Skaro on August 19, 1962; they recently celebrated 59 years of marriage.  His teaching career started in Badger, MN, where he taught for two...

Wallace “Wally” Duane Johnson, age 85, took his final journey home peacefully on Friday, September 24, 2021, from the Good Samaritan Society in Lakota, ND. Wally was born March 22, 1936, son of Victor & Olga Johnson of Lakota.  Wally grew up in Lakota, graduating from Lakota High School in 1954.  He married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Harper, on December 22, 1955.  They raised five children in a wonderful home that he had built in Lakota.  Wally...

Ret. Col. Oluf “Ole” Sundeen, born December 23, 1936 in Brocket, ND, died on September 6, 2021 in San Antonio, TX at the age of 84 years.  He was preceded in death by his parents, O.J. and Eva Sundeen; his three sisters, Joyce Riebe, Joan Hvidsten, and Janice Niclai; two infant children, Scott and Leann; and his special friends, K. Thor Thompson and Norm Carruthers. Ole is survived by his wife of thirty years, Rosemary; his stepdaughter, Renee (Brett) of San Antonio, TX;...

Verna Marie (Ruud) Gleason was born on April 16, 1932 at McVille, ND.  On August 31, 2021 Verna died peacefully at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.  Verna was 89 years old.  Serving the Lord and love for her family and friends were the foundations for her life, and she did both beautifully with grace and wisdom. Verna married the love of her life, Harold Thomas Gleason, on November 28, 1949.  They lived, worked, and traveled together for over 70 years.  When first...

Wayne E. Reep, 89, Bismarck, ND and formerly of Michigan, ND, went to be with the Lord peacefully on August 30, 2021 at Edgewood Village in Bismarck with the love of his life, Marilyn, beside him. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Michigan Lutheran Church, Michigan, ND.  Burial with military honors will follow at Michigan Cemetery.  A family service and visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at Aaker...