Del Nygard-much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend passed into the loving arms of Jesus on July 31, 2025.
Delhart D. Nygard was born to Bert and Nellie (Torgeson) on March 16, 1934 in Grand Forks, ND. At the age of 9 years old the family moved to Grafton, ND and he has been a lifelong resident. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1952. He served in the US Army from 1954-1957 and was the recipient of the Blazing Sun Award, Batallion Citation, and Soldier of the Month 3 times. After his discharge he returned to Grafton and started working at the KGPC Radio in 1958. Throughout the years he worked his way to sales manager, co-owner and then sole owner of KXPO Radio which he sold in 1998.
Del met Judy Wilson while roller skating and they were married in 1954. They celebrated 70 years together and he was still the light of her life.
Del was very active in the community. He was active in the Centennial Gold Coats, American Legion, Bowling leagues, coffee drinker, golfer, prankster and church member. He was always ready to help a neighbor or anyone in need.
Del is survived by his wife Judy, children: Joni Nygard, Dr. Shane (Ann) Nygard, his adored grandchildren: Dr. Katie (Bart) Schouwieller, Emily (Nick) Ternes, Dr. Adam (Summer) Nygard and Matthew Nygard. 8 great grandchildren and sister-in-law, Gayle Brown along with several nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law, Viola Hardahl, brother Vernon and sisters: Lorraine, Marylin and Blanche, brothers-in-law: Bill Brown, Ray Wilson and Harlan Kravik; sisters-in-law: Alice Nygard and Earline Wilson.
Del was a man of great integrity, generosity, patience, love and a crazy sense of humor. A huge void is left in our hearts, but he was a man of faith so we know we will reunite in heaven one day. “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM at the Bethel Free Lutheran church, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Memorial Park South cemetery in Grand Forks, ND Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 PM. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post #41 and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.

​Gary J. Stensland, age 81 of Edmore, North Dakota passed away Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at the First Care Health Center of Park River, North Dakota.
Funeral services will be Friday, August 8, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at the Concordia Lutheran Church, Edmore, North Dakota. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the church. Friends may also call at the church on Friday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Highland Cemetery, rural Fairdale, North Dakota. Military Rites will be provided by the Fairdale-Park River American Legion Post and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.
​An online guestbook is available at www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com
 
The Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River is in charge of the arrangements.

​Betty J. Machart, age 91 of Grafton, North Dakota, passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at the
Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 10:30 A.M. at the St. John the
Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00-7:00 at the
Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Tuesday for one
hour prior to the service at the church. A family rosary will be on Tuesday at the church at 9:00
A.M. The funeral will be livestreamed on Betty’s obituary page on the Tollefson Funeral Home
website.

Richard A. Grove, age 79 of Adams, ND, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the South Central Health Hospital, Wishek, ND.
Richard Grove was born April 2, 1946 in Grafton, ND, the son of the late Palmer and Beatrice (Aune) Grove.  He grew up in Adams, graduating from Adams High School.  He then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.  He was united in marriage to Linda Troftgruben on June 22, 1969 at Odalen Lutheran Church of Edinburg, ND.  The couple lived in Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas and New Mexico while he was working for Lutheran Brotherhood.  They moved back to Adams in 1979 where he began working as the lumberyard manager for Robertson Lumber.  He retired in the early 2000’s and drove school bus and worked seasonally for CHS.  Linda passed away in 2011 and he continued to make his home in Adams.
Richard was a member of the Adams Mountain Lutheran Church.  He served on the church council and Adams city council for over 30 years.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, carpentry, camping and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his children: Scot (Christine) Grove, Adams, ND and Brian (Nicole) Grove, Strasburg, ND; grandchildren: Taylor Grove, Haven Grove, Sebastian Bravebull, Cassius Grove and Kaleb Grove; sister Patricia Hove, Park River, ND; sisters-in-law: Cathy Hennelly, St. Paul, MN and Linda Troftgruben, West Fargo, ND; as well as several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Linda, and brothers-in-law: Neil Hove and Arlynn Troftgruben.
Memorial services will be Friday, July 25, 2025 at 10:30 AM at the Adams Mountain Lutheran Church.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service.  Inurnment will be at the West Adams Cemetery, Rural Adams.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the West Adams Cemetery.

James F. Hobbs, age 88 of Park River, ND passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the Park River Good Samaritan Center.


James Frederick Hobbs was born August 27 1936 in Park River, ND the son of the late Bickford and Eva (Disselbret) Hobbs. He graduated from the Walsh County Agricultural School in 1954. James served in the US Army from 1955-1957. He returned home upon his discharge and became a union meat cutter for the Red Owl Stores. He worked all over the country. He met his future wife, Maureen Trego,  in Casselton, ND where he was working. The couple married July 14, 1964 in Sisseton, SD. They made their home in Casselton for a time. James took a salesman job with John Morrell meats living in Minot and Grand Forks, ND.  In 1975 the couple moved to Park River and they owned and operated the Sportsman Bar in Park River until 1994. James worked for Western Polimer Potato Starch Plant in Grand Forks until retiring in 2006. Maureen passed away in December of 2006.  James became good friends with Margaret Dub of Park River. They spent several winters in Arizona. James moved to the Good Samaritan Center in 2022. 


James was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to camp with his family and was well known for his love of dancing.  While running the bar he sponsored several Men’s and Women’s Softball teams. 


James is survived by his son, Brian (Cindy) Hobbs, Hawley, MN; grandchildren: Justin Hobbs, Hawley, MN and Dakota Potter, Moorhead, MN; his sisters: Janet (Richard) Fettig, Bismarck, ND and Barbara (Tim) Collins, Park River, ND.and sister-in-law, Brenda Hobbs. Several nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughters: Jennifer Cook and Brenda Potter, brothers: Duane and Bill and his special friend, Margaret Dub. 


Memorial services will be Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Park River, ND.  Military rites will be provided by the Park River American Legion and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.  

Caleb Matthew Powers, infant son of Matthew and Alexis (Nice) Powers, was born on July 16, 2025 at Sanford Hospital of Fargo, ND.
With hearts full of love and unimaginable sorrow, Matthew and Alexis held their son, Caleb, as he took his last breaths on July 16, 2025 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND.  Caleb lived for 7 hours surrounded by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.  His seven precious hours were filled with so much love and prayer.  He did not go a second without being held by his loving parents.  Caleb was given a warm bath by his Dad and his first bottle by his Mom.  Caleb was baptized and confirmed in the operating room by Fr. Kevin Lorsung, with Blessed Carlos Acutis as his confirmation Saint.
In Caleb’s short earthly life, he united many hearts in prayer.  On January 24, Alexis and Matthew received the devastating news that their son was diagnosed with anencephaly, a terminal diagnosis.  With no earthly cure, his parents turned to the only source of hope they knew, prayer.  Caleb’s Gramma Julie sent out a prayer card to all of their friends and family inviting them to join in a novena asking for a miracle through the intercession of Servant of God Michelle Doupong.  Alexis and Matthew set out on a pilgrimage with their family to pray the last day of the novena at the gravesite of Servant of God Michelle Doupong.
Caleb had people across the country and even the world praying for him.  The love, support, and prayers his family has received was a beautiful witness of the power of prayer.  Although Caleb didn’t receive the miracle of complete healing, his family received many small miracles throughout Caleb’s whole journey.  His family finds comfort in knowing that Caleb now rests in the arms of Jesus, lovingly interceding for them and for all who have lifted him in prayer over the past six months.
Caleb Matthew, pray for us!
Caleb is survived by his parents Matthew and Alexis Powers; grandparents: Craig and Julianna Nice, Ardoch, ND, Mary Kay Powers, Centerville, OH, and Steven Powers, Centerville, OH; aunts and uncles: Elizabeth Nice (Zachariah Zikmund), Emma Nice, Josephine Nice, Michael Powers and Mark Powers; great grandparents: Bruce Powers, Larry Freier, Jan Altendorf, Arthur and Debra Nice; and great-great grandmother Doris Altendorf.
He was preceded in death by infant aunts and uncles: Mary Nice, Matthew Nice, Isaac Nice, Maximilian Nice, and Gianna Nice; great grandparents Jacob and Helen Zahn, Kenneth Kleven, Sonda Powers; and great-great grandfather Elmer Altendorf.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Minto.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Minto.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Gianna’s Maternity Home in Warsaw, ND.

Carlton G Heck
September 22, 1942 — July 16, 2025
Walhalla, ND.
​
Carlton G. Heck, 82, of Walhalla, ND, passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Walhalla, ND. Visitation will be held for one hour before the time of the service at the church.
Full obituary to follow.

Isabel Yvonne Hartje
September 6, 1924 — December 13, 2024
Formerly of Hensel

​Isabel Yvonne Hartje, formerly of Hensel, ND, passed away peacefully at the age of 100 on December 13, 2024, in Rapid City, SD. A service celebrating Isabel’s life will be held on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Brigid of Ireland Catholic Church in Cavalier, ND, with interment following at St. Brigid’s Cemetery.
Born on September 6, 1924, to Eugene and Alma Longtin, Isabel grew up on the family farm in Leroy, ND. She graduated from high school in Walhalla and briefly taught in a country school before contributing to the World War II effort as a Rosie the Riveter in Minneapolis.
On November 29, 1945, Isabel married Irwin Hartje in Leroy. They made their home in Hensel, ND, where they raised six children, operated a general store, and where Irwin served as postmaster. In retirement, they moved to Cottonwood, AZ, in 1988 and later to Rapid City, SD, in 2001. For the past six years, Isabel was a resident of Peaceful Pines Senior Living in Rapid City.
Isabel enjoyed a wide array of crafts including knitting and crocheting, loved playing cards, and cherished spending time with her family—especially her grandchildren as they grew. She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Rapid City.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 60 years Irwin; her brothers Alvah and Dwight; and her sister Evelyn. Grateful for having shared her life include her six children: Danne (Zelda) of Cavalier; Marcia (Doug) Hall of Mesa, AZ; Robert (Mary) of Rapid City, ND; Tracy (Mark) Seitz of Jamestown, ND; John (Lynn) of Sheridan, WY; and Roxan Kautz of Gilbert, AZ.
She is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. Isabel's legacy of love, warmth, and resilience will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Thomas G. Kram
November 27, 1934 — July 8, 2025
Langdon

Thomas G. Kram, 90, of Langdon, North Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Maple Manor Care Center in Langdon. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Alphonsus Parish Center in Langdon. Visitation will be held one hour before the time of services.
Thomas G. Kram was born November 27, 1934, in Langdon, ND to Samuel and Beatrice (Marcotte) Kram. He grew up in Dresden, ND where he attended grade school After graduating from St. Alphonsus High School in Langdon, he attended North Dakota State University. Tom then returned to Langdon, where he farmed with his dad before taking over the farm. He was also a co-owner of the Premix Cement Plant south of Langdon. Things he enjoyed were flying after obtaining his private license, playing blackjack and trips to the casino in Devils Lake, and his coin collection.
He is survived by his sister, Geraldine Schneider, Fargo, ND, nieces and nephews: Mike Kram, Colleen Rinas, Tom Kram, Pat Kram, Mary Feil; Cal “Brent” Crockett, Kent Crockett, Mary Barnes, Kathy Knieriemen, Greg Crockett; Susan Woodley and Carolyn Long, and several great nieces and nephews.
Preceding Tom in death were his parents, Samuel and Beatrice, brother, Ronald Kram, sister, Rita Crockett, and two infant brothers.