Wayne Bill, 76, of Hamilton, ND passed away October 29, 2023, in Hamilton. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 2, 20232023, at 11:00 am at Cavalier Evangelical Free Church. Visitation will be held from 9:30 until the time of the service at the church. Online guestbook available at www.askewfuneralhome.com

Josephine M. Kelly, age 77 of Edinburg, ND passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at the First Care Health Center of Park River, ND with her family by her side.
Josephine Mildred Olness was born March 14, 1946 on the family farm near Gonvick, MN the daughter of the late Gorde and Viola (Johnson) Olness. She attended rural schools near there. Following her education she worked as a nanny in the McIntosh area. Josephine married Brian Kelly. The couple made their home in Bagley, MN where she worked as a CNA at the Good Samaritan Center in Bagley and Crookston, MN. Three children were born of this union; Tammy, Pete and Cindy. She later married Bruce Bourque and the couple made their home in Clearbrook, MN.  Bruce passed away in 1996 and Josephine moved to Edinburg, ND shortly after his passing. She worked at Marvin Windows in Grafton until retiring in 2009. 
Josephine enjoyed quilting, sewing and baking cakes.
She is survived by her children: Peter (Joyce) Kelly, Park River, ND; Cindy (Chris) Vargason, Edinburg, ND; step-daughter, Julie Bourque, Brooklyn Center, MN; son-in-law, Daniel Olson, Edinburg, ND; six grandchildren: Andrew (Samantha) Olson, Elizabeth (Tyler) Needham, Tanner (Kaylan) Kelly, Casey & Cylen Vargason and Hope Rivers; five great grandchildren; siblings: Shirley Delage, McIntosh, MN; John (Sheri) Olness, Superior, WI; Luem (Rose) Olness, Andover, MN; Gorde (Rita) Olness, Clearbrook, MN and Vi Myklejord, Fosston, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, daughter Tammy, three sisters and one brother. 
Funeral services will be Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the Grace Free Lutheran Church of Edinburg, ND. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Elaine Westling, 88, of Robin, Minnesota passed away at her son's home in Grand Forks on Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Elaine Elsie Law was born April 6, 1935 in Beltrami, Minnesota to Eli and Lyda (Wehmhoefer) Law. She was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Beltrami and grew up on the family farm in Reis Township. Elaine's education began in a country school, and she attended the Beltrami School through the 8th grade. She then enrolled at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, where she received her high school diploma in 1953.  
Elaine moved to Minneapolis following graduation and began working for the Litton Company. On July 29, 1961 she married Roland Westling in Minneapolis, where they settled and later moved to Richfield, Minnesota.  Elaine and Roland operated Westling Brothers Landscaping Company for many years.  Elaine went to school for cosmetology and graduated in 1984. She was a stylist and manager at Mr. John's Beauty Salon. In 1991, both Elaine and Roland retired and moved to the family farm in Robbin. Roland passed away July 16, 2001.
Elaine was a member of Teien Covenant Church. She was a wonderful gardener and loved flowers. Her passion was collecting cookie jars, and she had a very large collection of all shapes and sizes.
Family members include her son, Lee (Laurie) Westling, Grand Forks; a grandson, Eli; as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eli and Lyda; husband, Roland; brother, Herbert; and sister Helen Gustafson.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, November 3, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in Telen Covenant Church, rural Drayton.  Interment will be in the Telen Covenant Cemetery.  Visitation will be held in the church on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. 
Austin Funeral Chapel, Drayton.

Dennis C. Erickson, 84 of rural Lankin, North Dakota died Monday, October 23, 2023, at Valley Senior Living, Grand Forks, North Dakota.  
Dennis was born on February 10, 1939, the son of Charles and Mabel (Bundy) Erickson in Grafton, North Dakota. He was raised on the family farm in rural Lankin, North Dakota. Dennis attended country school in the Cleveland Township and graduated from Walsh County Ag School in 1957. He served in the North Dakota National Guard. Upon his return after his father's passing, Dennis took over the family farm in 1960. He was united in marriage to LuRae “Dolly” Coulthart on June 26, 1960, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in rural St. Thomas, North Dakota. They raised their family on the farm. Dennis farmed for many years and continued to help his son, James, farm after his retirement from full-time farming.
Dennis was an avid hunter and fisherman with a love for nature, animals, and polka. He cherished the time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Dolly Erickson; daughters, Cindy (Lauren) Linstad and Bonnie Trontvet (Steve Huber); son, James Erickson; eight grandchildren, Carissa (Jimmy) Guler, Taylor Trontvet, Noelle (Jedidiah) Schlung, Callie (Starner) Vechery, Ashley (Peter) Nelson, Olivia (Dustin) Carl, Sydney Erickson, and Cameron Linstad; nine great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, son, Lynn, brothers, Richard Erickson and Robert Gregg and sister, Joanne Waldie.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 10, 2023, at Dahlen Lutheran Church, Dahlen, ND. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 10, 2023, at Dahlen Lutheran Church, Dahlen, ND. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be given to Quale Lutheran Church or Quale Cemetery, Fordville, ND.

 Floyd A. Simundson, 85, of Shelton, WA, passed away Monday, October 23, 2023 at Harbor View Hospital, in Seattle, WA. Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Military Rites will be presented by the U.S. Marine Corps at the service and by the Mountain American Legion at the Andvari Cemetery.
     Floyd was born October 21, 1938, in Lamoure Township, the second of Joe and Antoinette (Klindt) Simundson’s four sons. He attended the Hilltop country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Walhalla High School in 1957. He then worked in construction. Floyd volunteered to serve in the United States Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963. He later spent five years in the Air Force Reserve. After his discharge, he worked as a machinist at various locations. During his retirement, he spent the summer months in Washington state and the winters in Alabama.
     Floyd enjoyed hunting from a very young age through his final years. He also tried his hand at farming and raising livestock. However, his main hobby, at which he was an expert, was the raising of poultry of all types.
     Floyd was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Laurence Simundson. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Martineau and her family, Salem, OR, brothers Dick (Lorraine) Simundson, Walhalla, ND, and Orville (Marlene) Simundson, Cavalier, ND, and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Stuart R. Mitchell, 62, formerly of Crystal and Grand Forks, ND, passed away Sunday, October 22, 2023 at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND. Funeral service will be held Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Crystal United Methodist Church in Crystal, ND with a visitation at the church one hour before the time of service.
Burial will be held in the Crystal Memorial Cemetery in Crystal, ND.
Full obituary to follow.

 Ruth C. Shephard, age 101 formerly of Crystal, ND passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, ND.
     Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 2:30 at Bethel Baptist Church in Park River, ND.  Visitation begins at 1:00pm prior to the service. 
     Interment will be at Crystal Memorial Cemetery in Crystal, ND. Everyone is welcome to the Crystal Firehall starting at 5:00 p.m. for a visitation with a meal provided.
     Ruth Caroline Miller was born June 7, 1922 near Cashel, ND to Ray and Frieda (Steinbronn) Miller. She attended country school in the Cashel area and graduated from Grafton High School in 1940. Ruth then attended the Deaconess Nursing in Grafton graduating in 1943. From 1944 to 1945 during World War II, she served in the U.S. Army Nurses Corp in England and France.
     On March 21, 1948, she married Robert “Bob” Shephard. After their marriage they lived and farmed near Crystal, ND for 60 years. They were members of the Bethel Baptist Church in Park River. She also lived at the Cavalier Country Estates, Borg Memorial Home, Mountain, ND, Mapleview in Grand Forks, ND, and currently at the Lutheran Sunset Home.
     She is survived by her children: Lyle (Karen) Shephard, Crystal, ND, Carol Grabow, Dallas, TX, Paul (Melaine) Shephard, Boise, ID, grandchildren: Jared (Nicole) Grabow, Robby (Karen) Grabow, Trevor (Laurel) Shephard, Kali (Danny) Luecke, Colby Shephard, Thomas (Samantha) Shephard, Zach (Nicole) Shephard, great-grandchildren: Rachel, Heidi, and David Grabow, Everett and Aletta Shephard, Kamila and Eliza Luecke, Fia and Luke Grabow, Selah and Shiloh Shephard. Also surviving are her sister, Miriam Newton and sister-in-law, Lorraine Miller.
     Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Bob, son-in-law, Bob Grabow, siblings: Dorothy (Vance) Olson, Wally (Bonnie) Miller, Bob Miller, Arnold (Lila) Miller, Stanley (Edith) Miller, Kenneth Miller, brother-in-law, Harry Newton, brothers and sisters-in-law: Harold and Lucille Shepherd, Fred and Eileen Otto.

Meghan Kaye Forschen, 27, of Minot, ND and formerly of Walhalla, ND passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Minot, ND. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services.
     Meghan was born October 11, 1996, at Langdon, ND to Wanda (Kalis) and Don Forschen. She attended school in Walhalla graduating in 2015 and then attended Northland Tech in East Grand Forks, MN, finishing her first year in hope of attaining her lifelong dream of becoming a L.P.N. Meghan worked as a C.N.A. at the Pembilier Nursing Center, Borg Memorial Home, and Valley Eldercare. She truly loved all the “boys and girls” as she affectionately called the residents.
     She leaves behind her mother, Wanda Letexier, father, Don Forschen, stepfather, Frank Letexier, son, Carson William Johnson, and siblings: Jordyn Johnson, Autumn Forschen (Brandon Alexander), and Drew Forschen, stepsisters, Lillian and Lauren Letexier and special friend Kelly Quarles. Also survived by her grandmother, Kathy Kalis and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
     Preceding her in death were her paternal grandparents, Elaine and Don Forschen, and maternal grandfather, Leo Kalis.
     Meghan’s son Carsen, was the light of her life. She constantly spoke of him, prayed for him and wanted him to have a wonderful life. Meghan left us way to soon, but the Lord knew she was needed with Him. We believe she is in Heaven praying for us now as we all fervently prayed for her the past few years.
     Meghan’s battles are over, may she Rest in Peace among the Angels and Saints. You were dearly loved and treasured.

Roland O. Collette, age 94 of Oakwood, ND passed away on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at his home with his family by his side. 
Roland was born on October 11, 1929 in Oakwood, North Dakota, the son of the late Arthur and Louisa (Campbell) Collette.  He was raised on the family farm and attended St. Aloysius Academy.  After his education, he began farming with his father and brothers.  In 1951, Roland served his country in the Army and was stationed in Germany for two years.  After his honorable discharge, he returned to North Dakota and his love of farming. 
On October 14, 1959, Roland united in marriage to Elaine Kliniske.  Roland and Elaine made their home in Oakwood where they raised their four beloved children.  Roland loved to farm and was a proud Walsh County potato farmer.  He loved to go for drives through the country checking the fields and monitoring the crops. 
Roland was a lifelong member at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Oakwood.  He served on the church counsel for many years.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 41 and the VFW.   Through the years Roland enjoyed bowling in league, following the J.R.’s softball teams, and watching westerns.  He never missed an opportunity to attend morning coffee with his friends. 
Roland will be dearly missed by his wife of 64 years, Elaine; his children: Vonda (Tim) Persson, McPherson, KS, Patti (Barry) Kostyk, Gem Lake, MN, Jay Collette, Arlington, TX, and Carrie (Rick) Garcia, Mansfield, TX; grandchildren: Dusty (Rita) Becker, Brandon (Emily) Becker, Casey Persson, Cody (Patty) Persson, Katelyn (Chance) Tomey, Cameron (Yousra) Garcia, Amanda (Jonathan) Mitchell, and Chris (Jenny) Kostyk; great grandchildren: Landon, Aviana, June, Beau, DeLara, Eva, Grant, and Katya; siblings: Carol (Terry) Gallagher, Joyce (Roman) Lessard, and Francis Schuster; and sister-in-law: Lorna Collette. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Romeo, Juliette Lessard, Agnes Lessard, Margaret Demers, Kenneth, and Maurice B. 
Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church for one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Oakwood. Military Rites will be provided by the American Legion Post 41 and the ND National Guard Honor Guard. The family would like to direct memorials to Hospice - Red River Valley and Valley Ambulance of Grafton. 
A special thank you to all of the staff and nurses from Hospice – Red River Valley for the exceptional care of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather.