Richard M. Lawson, 83, of Cavalier, ND, passed away Friday, June 28, 2024, at Wedgewood Manor, Cavalier, ND. Memorial service will be held Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held for one hour before the time of the service at the Askew Funeral Home. 
Richard (Dick) Lawson was born June 30, 1940, in Langdon, ND to Oliver and Clara (Lein) Lawson. He grew up and attended School in the Concrete area.
On December 18, 1964, he married Zelda Bennett at the Walhalla Lutheran Church. They made their home in Walhalla and later moved to the farm in Concrete. Dick worked road construction and at the Co-op in Walhalla and eventually started working at the Par Site (Cavalier Space Force Station). He worked there for 42 years before he retired.
Dick’s hobbies were fishing, hunting, and riding his four-wheeler to visit all the neighbors. He enjoyed surfing the internet to watch videos of trains. He kept up on Face lift as he called it so he could see what others were doing and stay in contact.
He is survived by his children – Scott Lawson (Cathy), Hernando, FL; Roy Lawson (Shirley), Warren, MN; Nancy Clement (Marc), Mound, MN; and Gary Lawson (Trisha), Cavalier, ND; Honorable mention - also known as - The other Scott (Leann) Holmquist, Cavalier, ND. He had 17 Grand/Step-Grandchildren and two Great-Grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his wife Zelda and his parents, brother Lawerance and Abe and sisters Mildred and Edna.
He will be greatly missed by family and friends for his cheerful and kind ways.

Thomas A. Olson, age 71 of Grafton, ND, passed away on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the Unity Hospital of Grafton.
Funeral services will be Friday, June 28, 2024 at 3:30 PM at the Grafton Lutheran Church.  Visitation will be for 2 hours prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery of Grafton, ND.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Unity Medical Center Foundation or the North Dakota Cancer Center.

Bernice Marion Christianson (Huffman) died on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at Rapid City, SD. She was 102 years old. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 at United Lutheran Church in Cavalier, ND at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held one hour before the time of the service at the church.
Bernice was born on October 2, 1921, at Drayton, ND. Her parents, Kenneth and Florence Huffman farmed northeast of Walhalla, ND. Bernice attended a rural elementary school located a mile south of the Huffman homestead. Teachers often lived with the Huffman family during the school year. She graduated from the Walhalla Public High School. She attended NDSU and graduated with a degree in Home Economics in 1943. Bernice taught home economics for eleven years. She was Pembina County Superintendent of Schools from 1973 to 1984 and then retired.
Bernice married Elmo T. Christianson in Madison, Wisconsin on July 17, 1943, just before Elmo left for Europe to serve with the 15th Army Airforce. Bernice and Elmo had three children, Judy, Kenneth, and Kathleen. Bernice was a charter member of the United Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Dorcas Circle. Bernice was well known for her culinary skills. She enjoyed needlework and she was a birder. She moved to Rapid City to live near her daughter Judy in 2011.
Bernice is predeceased by her parents Kenneth and Florence Huffman, her sister Eleanor, her husband Elmo, daughter Kathleen, and son-in-law Danny Thompson.
Bernice is survived by her daughter, Judy Thompson of Rapid City, and Judy’s two children, Michael Thompson of Rapid City and Kirstin (Chris) Wallen of Colorado Springs, CO. She is also survived by her son Kenneth Christianson (Alice) of Anthem AZ, and their two children Leif Christianson (Judith) of Duluth MN, and Kyja (Christopher) Nelson of Fargo ND. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Gavin and Grayson Thompson, Unna Katla Nelson, Brooklyn and Ethan Christianson, and three great-great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at Vidalin Lutheran Church located at rural Akra.

Gail P. Haugen Melland, 86, of Edmore, ND passed away, Thursday, June 13, 2024, at First Care Health Center, Park River, ND.
Gail Patricia Haugen was born September 7, 1937 at Langdon, Cavalier County, ND.  She was an only child born to Arthur G. and Edna (Gellner) Haugen. She grew up near Nekoma in Billings Township, Cavalier County and attended Billings School #1 for four years, then attended Nekoma Public School graduating at age 16 as Co-valedictorian of her class in 1954. She attended college at Valley City and Devils Lake Mercy School of Nursing graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1957.
Following college, her first job at the age of 19 was at the Edmore Community Hospital as a combination administrator and Director of Nursing.  It was here she met her sweetheart Rodney E. Melland. They were married June 7, 1958 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Nekoma, ND. Rodney passed away July 28, 2022. They were married 64 years, had two children, Natalie and Mark, and spent their entire life farming at Edmore. Gail always said she was a North Dakota woman and except for an occasional visit, they had no yen to become snowbirds after they retired.
Along with her farm wife responsibilities, Gail managed a 41-year career in nursing. The Edmore Hospital closed in 1961 and Gail worked as a staff nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Langdon for 15 years.  In 1967 she started working at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake. After special classes in Minot, she became one of the first nurses to staff the hospital’s newly organized Coronary and Intensive care unit.  In 1970, Gail started working for Morrison-Knudson and Assoc. as Nursing Director for the medical complex at the Stanley R. Mikkelson Missile Complex at Nekoma.  Following the site building closure, she was employed as Nursing Director by Federal Electric during the Missile site tear-down phase ending in 1978.
 From 1981 until 1989 she served as Director of Nursing at Maple Manor Care Center in Langdon. Beginning in 1990, she joined the nursing staff at St. Ansgar Hospital (First Care Health Center) in Park River.  She truly enjoyed her position and the staff at St. Ansgar and said it was her favorite career job. She retired in October 1998.
Gail was a civic leader and worked hard for her community.  She was the initial instigator of the Edmore Centennial, the Edmore ball park and the Edmore Historical Society and worked diligently for the development of each. She served on the Edmore City Council and taught Advanced First Aid to the Edmore Ambulance attendants for 15 years.  As a fundraiser for the ball park, she designed, edited and compiled the Edmore Community Cookbook in 1973. Along with Dorothy Johnson, she designed, partially wrote and edited the 635-page Edmore Centennial History hardcover book in 2001. She also Designed and wrote the Nekoma 75th Diamond Jubilee Heritage hardcover book and St. Edward’s 100th Anniversary book.  She received the Governor’s Leadership Award leadership award from Gov. Arthur Link in 1978.
She was avid curler for 35 years and dedicated a lot of time working for the curling club in Edmore.  She also liked sports and fishing. She was always available to help others with their medical needs or accidents.  Helping friends and giving of herself meant a lot to her. 
The most important thing to Gail in this world was her precious immediate family, as well as her extended families.
She was an avid genealogist and helped others as well as tracing her paternal Haugen family in Telemark, Norway back to the year 1265.  After a 108-year separation, Gail’s research located many Norwegian family members, especially the Snippen’s. Several have visited her many, many times.  She visited Norway three times and in 2002 her family went to BO, Telemark, Norway, for 12 days, which included a 3-day celebration of the Haugen family that brought 400 Norwegians and 40 Americans together. She was honored and recognized as the source that reunited the family from both sides of the ocean. 
Due to her husband’s curling success, they traveled to France, Switzerland, Denmark, England, Scotland, Sweden, and Iceland. They also visited most of the western United States and several areas in Canada.  
She was preceded in death by her husband Rodney Melland, her parents Arthur and Edna Haugen; her grandparents, Adolph and Gyda (Oyos) Haugen and Jacob and Barbara (Waltz) Gellner; her in-laws, Edwin and Anna G. Melland; her sister-in-law Frances Melland Anderson; a nephew, Steven Anderson and a step-niece, Tamra Studsrud Mahone. 
She is survived by her daughter, Natalie Melland, Fargo, son, Mark Melland, Edmore, two grandchildren, Destiny Melland, Fargo and Issac Melland, Fargo, one great grandson, Gardner Melland, Fargo, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dennis and Jacquelyn Melland, Park River; brother-in-law, John Anderson, Lakeville, MN, nephew, Christopher Anderson, Eagan, MN, niece, Kelly Anderson, Brooklyn, NY, step-niece Kimberly Studsrud, Crystal, MN and step- nephew, Jason Studsrud, (Patty), Maple Grove, MN.
Gail’s kindness, generosity, compassion and understanding will be greatly missed by her beloved family and many, many friends.
Funeral services will be held at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Langdon, ND at 2:00 PM on Thursday, June 20, 2024, with visitation one hour before the service. 
Visitation at Tollefson Funeral Home in Park River will be Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 5:00 – 7:00 PM, followed by a prayer service at 7:00 PM. 
Interment will be at Edmore Community Cemetery at Edmore following the funeral service. 
The service will be live streamed on the Tollefson Funeral Home website.
The Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River is in charge of the arrangements.

Darrell A. Kemnitz, 70, of Cavalier, ND, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2024, at his home. Memorial service will be held Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the United Lutheran Church in Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the church.
 Darrell was born on February 10, 1954, in Cavalier, ND to Gerald and Patsy Kemnitz. He graduated from Cavalier High School in 1972 and then attended University of Minnesota Crookston and also Auctioneer school. He farmed around the Cavalier area and raised cattle on the Bell Plain Farm. 
He married his high school sweetheart, Karen Tongen, and together they raised two children, Ryan and Rachel. Darrell enjoyed his cattle and perhaps could be called the “cattle whisperer.” He knew the particulars of each cow past and present from his herd. He was deeply involved with showing cattle at the Pembina County Fair, now sharing that passion with his grandchildren. He continued to stay involved in the fair and 4-H long into his adult life, helping with the premium sale every year. He often talked about his friends out in Western North Dakota as the “real cowboys.” Marty Robbin’s songs, cowboy hat and boots, horses in the corral, cows in the barn–yes, Darrell loved and lived the cowboy lifestyle. He helped host trail rides as the rides did what Darrell loved-bringing people together with animals, showcasing beautiful scenery, and developing lifelong friendships.
 It is said the cowboy code is simple: be tough, be honest, be fair. Darrell followed that code and added his own fourth component: be appreciative of family and friends. Darrell welcomed people from all segments of society, age, and professions. He met each person as an individual and valued relationships. Darrell loved to visit and tell stories. He could tell the best jokes that always ended with him giggling the most! And yes, it was a giggle!
Darrell and Karen were a team and that was seen in how they raised their family, cared for their grandchildren, and built their farm. Darrell and Karen did not do a random job but did everything with care and thoughtfulness. They made sure that there were horses, cattle, and other critters for the grandchildren on the farm so they could experience the life that had impacted their parents. It was a well-thought-out process of transferring ideas from one generation to the next as values were taught and experiences shared. Darrell was a humble man, but his pride shone through when he was with his family. His wife, children, and his grandchildren were his pride and joy. 
Surviving Darrell are his wife of 47 years, Karen, son, Ryan (Jenna) Kemnitz, daughter, Rachel (Marcus) Ramsay, grandkids: Ava, Henry, and Everett Kemnitz, and Nora and Jade Ramsay; Father, Gerald Kemnitz; Siblings: Kathy (Chuck) Fisher, Linda (Lynn) Paulson, Nancy (John) Jenson, Duane (Shawnda) Kemnitz, in-laws: Joel (Loretta) Tongen, Connie Graham, Becky (Lynn) Ault, and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his mother, Patsy, in-laws, Clair and Joyce, and brother-in-law, Dick. 
“Oh, the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say. This is where the cowboy rides away.”

Ellen (Ellie) Berg, age 90 of Cavalier, ND passed away peacefully, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier, ND. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Lutheran Church in Cavalier. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier, ND.
Ellen Marie Fornes was born in rural Cass County on April 12, 1934, to Monroe and Catherine Fornes. She was the oldest of nine children. She grew up in Amenia, ND, and graduated from Amenia High School in 1952. Ellie then attended Mayville College and received an elementary teaching degree in 1954. While attending college in Mayville, she met Elroy Berg, and he became the love of her life. They were married on June 25, 1954. Elroy passed away on October 12, 2016.
Ellen’s first teaching position was in Finley, ND. The family then moved to Casselton, ND where she continued to teach. In 1967, the family moved to Cavalier, ND and Ellie began teaching in Neche, ND. In the summers of 1972-1974, Ellie went back to school and received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Ellie then taught in Cavalier and retired from Cavalier Public School. She enjoyed teaching so much that she began subbing and continued for 17 years.
Ellie loved watching the Tornado sports teams and cheered loud and proud. At wrestling matches, you could find her making the wrestling moves in the stands. She loved watching all of her grandchildren participate in sports and was one of their greatest fans.
Ellie was a volunteer at the Cavalier Thrift Store and Meals on Wheels. She was always ready with a casserole or cookies and bars if someone needed them. She had the best friends, and they would get together for birthdays, coffee, or the Saturday Morning Breakfast Club.
Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and she enjoyed showing off the pictures she received of them and her great-grandchildren.
Ellie is survived by her children: Kevin (Dianne), Eric (Greg), Cory (Nancy), Jana (Don) Meyer, and Tracy (Tracy) Ault; grandchildren: Cody Berg (Kelsey), Garth Berg (Bailey), Mali Savageau (Taylor), Alexa Neu (Scott), Connor Berg, Katie Berg, Ann Meyer, and Wyatt Meyer (Michaela); great-grandchildren: Teagan, Tucker, Jenson, Jaeger, Blaise, Taytum, Asher, Ayla, Gunnar, Ethan and Dawson. She is also survived by her brothers: Don Fornes (Gloria) and Terry Fornes (Sandy) and sisters: Janet Fraase (Bill) and Linda Reynolds (Bruce); and many nieces and nephews. Family was and is everything.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Elroy Berg; parents; in-laws; brothers: Lars Fornes, James Fornes, and David Fornes; and sister, Karen Amador.

Margaret Ann Dub, a beloved mother, devoted grandmother, and cherished friend, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Park River, ND surrounded by her family. Born on February 12, 1937 in Conway, ND, she embraced a life filled with joy, adventure, and meaningful connections.
After graduating from the Walsh County Agricultural School in 1955, Margaret earned her rural teaching certificate from Mayville Teachers College. She embarked on a fulfilling career as an educator and later transitioned into social work, dedicating herself to the public at Quad County Community Outreach until her retirement in 1999.  In recognition of Margaret’s unwavering commitment to serving her community, she was honored with the prestigious Nano Nagle Service Award during her tenure.
On November 24, 1956, Margaret married the love of her life, Charles “Charlie” Dub, in Pisek, ND.  Together they shared a passion for antiquing, camping, fishing, listening and dancing to polka music, spending time with their family and traveling.  Charlie passed away on November 25, 1999.
Margaret is survived by her six children:  Melanie Cochran (Michael) of Chelan, WA, Randy Dub (Nicole) of Park River, ND, Renee Midgarden (Wesley) of Camano Island, WA, Charles “Chuck” Dub of Park River, ND, Chadd Dub of Park River, ND and Brian Dub (Nicole) of Shakopee, MN.  Her loving spirit will continue to shine through her eight adoring grandchildren: Cory, Zachary, Elizabeth, Logan, Alexandra, Dexter, Charlie and Leo.
Beyond her immediate family, Margaret cultivated enduring friendships.  Her close-knit group of high school friends, known as the “9 Hers,” provided laughter and unwavering support throughout her life.  Margaret also actively participated in various community organizations. She was an engaged member of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she selflessly contributed her time and efforts to support veterans and their families. Margaret’s dedication to service extended to Fortnightly Club, where she worked alongside other women to promote educational initiatives and community development.
Margaret found great joy in travel, exploring the diverse landscapes of the country from coast to coast.  She relished visits to family in Washington State and Minnesota, winters were spent in Arizona, alongside her beloved companion, James “Jim” Hobbs.
An active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Park River, ND, Margaret drew solace and inspiration from her faith.  She possessed a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life and will be remembered for her positivity and ability to find common ground with anyone she met. She always left the house with her red lipstick applied, ready to embrace the world with her infectious smile.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie, infant sister, Rose Mary Murray, and sister, Eleanor Baria.  
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Margaret’s remarkable life will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024 at 10:30 AM at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Park River.  A visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery of Park River.  Memorial donations are preferred to the Park River Good Samaritan Center or the First Care Health Center of Park River.
In our hearts, Margaret’s legacy will forever shine, reminding us to live life fully and to be thankful for all of God’s blessings.  She will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Ranulfo H. Moreno, age 66 of Grafton, North Dakota passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at his home with his family by his side. 
Ranulfo was born on May 27, 1958 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to the late Juan Montoya Moreno and Marie Herrera Moreno.  He was raised and attended school in Monterrey.  His family moved to the United States and he began working as an arborist.  In 1982, Ranulfo married Myronda “Ronda” Johnson in Holland, MI.  Their family migrated for many years working in the south and returning to Michigan.  
Ranulfo and Ronda settled in Grafton, ND in 1994.  Ranulfo began working for Marvin Windows and continued working there until his health forced him to retire.  He loved to spend his free time fishing, especially at the Red River at Drayton, ND.  He was a music fan, enjoyed family time and barbequing. 
Ranulfo is survived by his wife of 42 years, Myronda Moreno, Grafton, ND; children: Ranulfo Moreno, Jr., Grafton, ND, Amanda Salone, Grafton, ND, Jesse Moreno, Grafton, ND, Johnny Moreno, Grafton, ND, Veronica Moreno, Grafton, ND, and Xavier Moreno, Grafton, ND; 12 grandchildren; and several siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers. 
Memorial Services will be on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Assembly of God Church of Grafton.  Visitation will be one hour prior at the church.