Robert L. Keena, 96, of Hamilton, ND passed away Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Pembilier Nursing Center, Walhalla, ND. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cavalier Evangelical Free Church in Cavalier. Visitation will be held at the church one hour before the time of the service.
Robert was born on August 4, 1927 to Ray and Kate (Anderson) Keena in Hamilton, ND. He attended school in Hamilton, and graduated in 1946.  He attended Dakota Business College in Fargo, ND, where he was also employed as an accountant for Hvidston Transport, Inc. and the Larson Co.  and he returned to help on the farm every summer.  Robert was employed as a bookkeeper for Hamilton Motor and Implement (35 years), was the Clerk of the Board of Education (17 years), Secretary and Treasurer of the Hamilton Township Cemetery Association (54 years), and served as the Treasurer of the Community Club and Bicentennial Book Committee.
     Robert was a faithful member at both the Hamilton Baptist Church and the Cavalier Evangelical Free Church.  He was a lifelong resident of the Hamilton area, with a strong sense of community loyalty and support.   He loved the land and his rural heritage.
Bob enjoyed and took great pride in: serving at the Hamilton Coffee House with his sister, Jeanette; playing piano and all things musical; attending dances; gardening; supporting the church and missionaries; and spending time with all his cousins.
     Left to mourn his loss are his many friends and relatives.
     He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Kate Keena, and sister, Jeanette Keena. 

Allerd Roy Seboe, age 71 of Park River, ND passed away Sunday, December 24, 2023 at his home in rural Park River.
Allerd was born May 20, 1952 in Park River, ND the son of the late Roy and Mary (Lohse) Seboe. He graduated from Park River High School. Following his education, he worked on the family farm and later worked for a local farmer. Allerd was united in marriage to Georgia (Schmaltz) Seboe on November 1, 1986.
Allerd loved reading and watching old westerns and playing solitaire. He was a former member of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, former Secretary/Treasurer for the Park River Rural Fire Protection District and in addition to being a lifetime member of Golden Township, he served on the Golden Township Board for 32 years.  Allerd also enjoyed happy hour each day with good friends.
Allerd is survived by his step daughter, Kelli (Chris) Golembeski; niece, Stacey (Justin) Loftsgard; nephew, Stuart Swartz; nephew, Taylor Lindsey; siblings: Lynnette (Greg) Swartz and Peggy (Allan) Gattis; and most of all his beloved cat Zayn.  He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Georgia.
Per Allerd’s wishes, no service will be held at this time. Interment will be in the spring with a happy hour planned in his honor.

William L Ginder
October 28, 1928 — December 21, 2023
Hoople, ND
​William L. Ginder, 95, of Hoople, ND, passed away Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton, ND. Funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cavalier Assembly of God Church, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 26, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND.
William “Bill” Ginder was born on October 28, 1928, on the family farm in rural Hoople to William J. Ginder and Edna (Johnston) Ginder. He graduated from Hoople High School and enlisted in the Air National Guard on April 1, 1951. He served in the Korean Conflict as a lead mechanic for P-51 Mustang Gunfighter planes in Iceland.
He married Marilyn Sondeland on August 24, 1954, at the Grafton Lutheran Church, and for 69 years they shared their life together on the original Ginder farm.
Bill enjoyed being a very diverse farmer by raising beef, hogs, sunflowers, honeybees, wheat, and poultry as well as potatoes for grocery stores in the Midwest. He also worked security at the Par Site during the winter months. Bill drove tender truck in his retirement years for Simplot until he was 86 years old.
He enjoyed his tablet and cell phone during his stay at the Lutheran Sunset Home which helped him stay in touch with family and keep up with current events.
Bill is survived by his wife, Marilyn; children, Jolyn (Warren) Stevens, Westby, Montana; Terry (Jill) Ginder, Drayton, ND; Holly (Russell) Edgar, Bathgate, ND. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ryan (Wendi) Stevens, Williston, ND; Randy (Melissa Sanner) Stevens, Fortuna, ND, Amanda (Kyle) Sorensen, Williston, ND, Jared Stevens, Westby, MT, T.J. Ginder, Hoople, ND, Laci (Tyler) Soper, West Fargo, ND, Sarah (Reimar) Nell, Fargo, ND, Justin Edgar, Bathgate, ND; and 10 great-grandchildren, Ava, Aksel, Hunter, Waylon, Hailey, Emalie, Tyler, Londyn, Logynn and Jaeger.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter; sisters, Arlene Kincaid and Elsie Larson, and an infant brother.

Lynn Hughes, age 69 of Grafton, North Dakota passed away Friday, December 15, 2023 at his home in Grafton.
Lynn Bruce Hughes was born in Grafton, North Dakota, the son of the late Donald and Betty (Burgess) Hughes.  Lynn attended and graduated from St. Thomas High School.  After his graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy.  After serving, Lynn returned to Grand Forks where he attended and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in Computer Science.  He worked in Grand Forks at a computer parts store.  Lynn then moved to California where he worked for IBM.  In 1991, Lynn met Kris Wagner and they were united in marriage in January 2001in Mesa, Arizona.  The couple made their home in St. Thomas where they raised their children.  Lynn worked for area farmers, sold insurance, CHS and trucking.  He pursued many dreams of his, including making memories with Kris.  Kris passed away on June 15, 2019.
Lynn loved many things but the most important one was being with his family.  He enjoyed collecting unique toys, woodworking, online racing, cards, dice and playing the guitar.  He was quite the prankster and jokester.  He loved to do yard work and was very meticulous about his yard.
Lynn is survived by his children:  Matthew (Carrie) Hughes, Grafton, ND; Jen (Greg) Shane, Grafton, ND; Michael (Gregoria) Lande, Grafton, ND; grandchildren:  Preston and Ethan Hughes and Shawn Thompson;  special friend, Mary Mikolai;  siblings:  Dr. Larry (Sandy) Hughes, Hemet, CA; Linda (Marvin) Eliason, Fountain Hills, AZ; Ladawne (Scott) Viol, St. Thomas, ND.  Several nieces and nephews also survive.  He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Kris Hughes.
Memorial services will be Monday, January 8, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Inurnment will be at the St. Thomas City Cemetery, in the spring.  Military Rites will be provided by the St. Thomas American Legion Post and the U.S. Naval Funeral Honors.

​ Margaret Rose Howell, 76, of Walhalla, ND, passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Sanford Hospital, Fargo, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 15, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Walhalla, ND. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service at the church.
 
     Margaret Rose Thompson was born June 18, 1947, at Langdon, ND, the daughter of Harvey and Margaret (Lyle) Thompson. She grew up on their family farm near Leyden, ND. Margaret enjoyed sharing many fun memories from her childhood with her 3 brothers and 4 sisters.  She graduated from Walhalla High School in 1965 then pursued her Nursing Degree from Wahpeton School of Science. She loved her career as a Nurse at the Cavalier Clinic. 
 
     On May 10, 1969, she married Galen Howell at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Leroy, ND. Together the two of them built not only their home in Leroy, ND but also an amazing life together. She very much enjoyed being a part of the St. Joseph Alter Society. She was a natural at baking delicious treats, everyone especially loved her caramel rolls. Margaret was skilled at everything she did and there wasn't anything that she couldn't do. From seamstress to gardening and caring for the house, a little bit of pottery and of course being an avid nurse. But, most of all Margaret truly loved being an amazing wife to Galen and an inspirational and very loving mother to their three daughters, Jan, Mary and Becky. The love that Margaret had for her girls and husband was immeasurable. As a family they enjoyed many vacations and music concerts. Margaret loved to go for drives with her husband just enjoying each others company, the scenery of the beautiful area they called home and tapping her toes to the music on the radio.  Margaret made any troubled times look so easy and handled all struggles with the brightest of smiles and caring nature.  She had  such a fun sense of humor and loved to joke around all of the time.  Margaret's extraordinary outlook on life was so engrained in her that everyone she met was touched by her positive light and that infectious smile. 
 
     Survivors include her husband, Galen, daughters: Jan (Thomas) Dick of Fargo, ND, Mary Howell of Grand Forks, ND, Becky (Levi) Gubbels of Grand Forks, ND. Her siblings: Becky Herman, Barb Magnusson, Chris (Debbie) Thompson, Mike Thompson, Eva (Ron) Anderson, and Kathleen (Michael) Austfjord and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
 
     She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Harvey R. Jr. Thompson.

Gerald Kay Madson, born March 21st, 1941, died at the age of 82 on December 12th, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Larimore, ND. Gerald, known as Jerry or “Hobie” to his family and friends, was born to Palmer and Aletta (Gilbertson) Madson. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up on his parents’ farm near Niagara, ND, where his passion for farming, repairing, and building began. He was baptized and cofirmed at Elk Valley Lutheran Church. Jerry attended the nearby country school and eventually Fordville High School where he graduated in 1961. Soon after graduation, he joined the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged due to a medical condition before he finished basic training. Jerry then operated an auto service station in Fordville for several years. On the weekends he met his friends at Bachelors Grove to enjoy music and dancing. There Jerry met the love of his life, Janet Stiles from Inkster, ND, and were married on September 12th, 1964. Jerry started farming in 1967; he and Janet raised four children, Shelly, Brian, Lisa, and Mark on a farm south of Fordville. He was a member of Fordville Lutheran Church and the American Legion, Rotnem Abel Post 274. 
Jerry was a wonderful husband, father, neighbor, and friend, who was known for his quick wit, generous smile, and kind heart.  He was always cracking jokes, telling a story, or getting to know someone new; he never met a stranger.  Jerry loved and took great pride in farming and being a part of a close-knit rural community. He also kept busy during the winter months with his sharpening business, upholstery work, and other projects that appealed to his tinkering nature. He enjoyed using his mind and hands to fix or create new things. Jerry and Janet have always loved children. Once their eldest children were grown, Janet started a home daycare, and over those 25 years, many children found a welcoming place on Jerry’s knee. Their home continued to be a place full of fun, love, and learning; they cared for the daycare kids as if they were their own. 
In 1998, Jerry retired from farming on his own and began working full-time for Kent and Lowell Whaley in Fordville.  He was able to continue his passion for farming with people he knew well and cared for their farming operation as if it was his own.  In his late retirement years, Jerry could also be found in his new shop where he tinkered on small projects and enjoyed visiting with anyone who stopped by.  In the end, his retirement years were filled with joy and peace, where he really embraced the simpler things in life.
He is survived by Janet, his wife of 59 years, and his children: Shelly (Dave) Voight, Brian (Roxanne) Madson, Lisa (Jason) Jacobs, and Mark (Trish) Madson; grandchildren: Jennifer (John) Wessels, Matthew (Autumn) Voight; Leah, Claire (Sam) Harris, Luke, Peter, Julia, Molly Madson; Phillip, James, Thomas, Andrew, Elizabeth Jacobs; Sophia, and Rowen Madson; great-grandchildren: John David Wessels; Olsen Voight; sisters: Dorothy Thoe and Geneva Flaaskog; sisters-in-law: Avis and Sylvia. He was preceded in death by his mother, Aletta Madson, his father, Palmer Madson, his brothers, James, Ronald, and Paul, sister, Vivian Behm and granddaughter Maria Madson. 
FUNERAL SERVICES:   10:30 a.m. Monday, December 18 in the Fordville Lutheran Church.
VISITATION:  Sunday, December 17 from 6-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service held in the Fordville Lutheran Church.
INTERMENT:  Oak Grove Cemetery, Fordville.

Roger L. Carriere, 73, of Walhalla, ND passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla, ND. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday, December 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service.
Roger Lee Carriere was born on May 1, 1950, to Camille and Frances Carrier. Roger was the oldest of seven children who all worked and played together on the family farm south of Walhalla, ND. He took his responsibilities as the oldest child very seriously and even stayed home to manage the farm when the rest of the family traveled to California in the winter of 1967-68.
Roger attended Walhalla High School and graduated in 1968. He later attended UND in Grand Forks for a brief time. He moved to Williston in the early 70’s during which time he stayed with his dear Aunt Marlene and Uncle Rene. Roger was proud to have earned his private pilot’s license alongside his uncle Rene during that time. Spending time with Marlene and Rene’s family is how he ultimately met his wife, Jean Lindvig.
Roger and Jean were married on June 11, 1977. Together they had three children, Susanne, Douglas & Margot. They raised their family in a cozy little house on the corner of 17th Street in Williston. Roger gained skills in the welding trade through apprenticeship and worked his way through certifications while honing his skills as a pipefitter in the 1980’s Williston oil boom. In the 1990’s, oil activity slowed around Willison and Roger took to traveling to many parts of the western United States to work onpipelining projects.
Upon Roger and Jean’s marriage ending in 2004, he remained working in the Williston area. He was delighted to be working through another oil boom, something he never dreamed would happen in his lifetime. A man of many interests, he enjoyed playing horseshoes with neighbors and friends in leagues around Williston, hunting, fishing, playing pool, golf, dabbling with the guitar and trying new recipes.
In 2007 Roger was joined in marriage to childhood friend, Hope Johnstone and he retired to Walhalla in 2013. He refurbished a home there and also enjoyed spending time working on the Bjornstad farm, running a small landscaping business and hanging out with his beloved rat terrier, Archie. Roger remained in Walhalla after his marriage to Hope ended in 2017.
As his health declined, he found new hobbies like perfecting a beef jerky recipe, sketching, tinkering with Model A tractors, restoring antique pocketknives and seasoning cast iron pans. In his later years, Roger’s Catholic faith grew very strong, and he enjoyed discussing theology with his family and friends.
His proudest moments in the last twelve years were the news of the birth of each of grandchildren: Jackson, Ivan, Nola and Beya. As a proud grandfather, Roger spent time visiting his grandsons in Winnipeg and granddaughters in Fargo. He loved to talk to them on the phone and to hear stories of their growing and adventures.
Roger is preceded in death by infant nephew, Aaron Carrier; sister, Karen Kramer; father, Camille Carrier and sister Susan Kartes.
Roger is survived by his children Susanne (Regan) Kilbrei, Douglas (Emily) Carrier, Margot (Brett) Brunelle; four grandchildren, Jackson and Ivan Kilbrei, Nola and Beya Carrier. He is also survived by three brothers, Kevin Carrier, Kent Carrier, JD Carrier and wife Dawn, sister Cathy Urlaub and husband Larry Gerhardson, Aunt Marlene and many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Maureen King, 66, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2023, in Grand Forks, ND. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
Maureen King was born April 18, 1957, in Langdon, ND, to Wylie and Delora (Gratton) King. She grew up in Walhalla, ND, and graduated from Walhalla High School in 1975. After high school, Maureen attended the University of North Dakota and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in special education. She was a four-year member of the ROTC while attending UND. After college, she taught school in Poplar, MT and was a substitute teacher in Fargo.
Maureen led a fulfilled life even though she struggled with mental illness. She led peer support groups for people with mental health issues and trained law enforcement about how to treat people with mental illness. Maureen received a kidney from her sister Wendy in March of 2011 after a mental health medication she was taking caused her kidneys to fail.
Maureen enjoyed quilting and crocheting. She was a member of quilting clubs in Walhalla and Cavalier. She was also a volunteer at the thrift store in Cavalier.
Survivors include her siblings: Rebecca (Dan) Mattern, Bismarck, ND; Bradley (Geraldine) King, Walhalla, ND; Wendy (Larry) Holter, Alvarado, MN; Robert (Melody) King, Cavalier, ND; Jodi (Jon) Ramsey, Little Falls, MN; grandchildren: Jaden, Jacoby, and Cora. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; ex-husband, Pete Peterson; and niece, Skyler Syrup and infant niece, Monique Holter, and her beloved dog Snowbear.

Ronald Myron Carlson, 88, of Bullhead, AZ and formerly of Michigan, ND, passed peacefully at his home in Bullhead, AZ.  He was surrounded by Ila and children.  
Ron was born May 18, 1935, to the late Ben and Johanna (Thompson) Carlson.  He was baptized and confirmed at Quale Lutheran Church.  Ron spent his childhood growing up on the family farm and graduated from Dahlen High School.
He proudly served his country in the U. S. Air Force for four years.  Ron attended Air Born Radar School at Lowery A.F.B. in Denver, Colorado.  After this initial training they sent him to the Moody A.F.B. in Valdosta, Georgia.  It was here that he enjoyed working on the F86, F89, and F94 Fighter Interceptor planes.  After an honorable discharge, he returned to Minneapolis to work construction by day and attend North Western Electronic School at night.
In 1962, after graduation from N.W., Boeing employed him for the Minuteman Missile Program.  Ron and his family were sent to Seattle, Washington for additional schooling on the missile system.  It was from here they moved extensively to the bases around the country.  His last 18 months of his career, Ron was sent to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to assist with their early warning radar system.  At the time, there were 18 sites around the perimeter of the country.
After 30 years with Boeing, he retired in 1992, to return home to North Dakota.  It was then that he met Ila Loken and spent the next 30 years happily living on the farm in Michigan, North Dakota and eventually spending the winters as “snowbirds” in Bullhead, AZ.  His favorite hobby was to buy and restore old tractors for his massive collection, along with collecting wonderful antiques.
Ron is a member of the Bosh Ryba American Legion Post 157 of Lankin, ND.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Carroll, Sheldon, Urban, Dorman, Dennis, Leslie and his sister Johanna.   He is survived by his sister Delores Wermerskirchen.
Grateful to have shared Ron’s life are Ila Loken; Ron’s four children Carla Craigle, Ron, Jr., Shawn and Shane; Carol Morris,  Mark Loken, Shiela Alvarez; all the beautiful grandchildren and precious great-grandchildren and the many nieces and nephews he also treasured.
VISITATION will be for one hour prior to the FUNERAL SERVICES on  Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 11:00 a.m at Quale Lutheran Church, rural Fordville.  BURIAL will follow in Quale Church Cemetery. MILITARY HONORS and Flag Presentation will be by the Bosh Ryba Post No. 157 of the Lankin American Legion and the US Air Force Honor Guard.
Please join the Carlson and Loken families for lunch  at the Legion Hall in Lankin after the service.
**In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Quale Lutheran Church’s general fund.

Diana S. Kitchens, 80, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at the Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton, ND.
Diana Sylvia Roth was born June 11, 1943 to Henry and Katherina (Ude) Roth at Golden Valley, ND. They followed her father’s work of building missile silos throughout North Dakota.  She attended schools in Minot, Stanley, Devils Lake, and Grand Forks.  She met Kenneth Kitchens in Minot, ND and they were married February 18, 1961.  They were blessed with two children (Jeffrey and Tambra).  They lived in Georgia, Minot, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Dilworth MN, Fergus Falls MN, and Grafton.  They settled in Grafton in 1975.  
Diana lived a life caring for others.  She worked at numerous retail businesses but spent many years at Cox’s Bakery and the State School in Grafton.  She took great pride in her children and grandchildren.  You never left her house hungry and in fact you probably left with food.  She liked to bake, do puzzle books, and crochet.  She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Grafton which recently closed.  She enjoyed her RV trip across Western Canada, The Yukon and Alaska in 2018 with her brother Larry, sister-in-law Sharyl, daughter Tambra and the Olson’s. There was always family there working on a project at her house as she took a run-down house and made it like new.
Diana is survived by her children: Jeffrey (Joann) and Tambra; grandchildren: Travis (Kristina) Kitchens, Nathan (Kirsten) Kitchens, Amanda (Andrew) Buettner, Adam (Kristine) Kitchens, Alex (Alison) Kitchens, Abbey Kitchens, Derek Kitchens, and Devin (Victoria) Kitchens; great grandchildren: Austin, Brooklyn, Avery, Eastyn, and Brinley Kitchens, Seth, Lucas, and Callie Kitchens, Elliot and Haddie Buettner, Ryan, Carson, and Micah Kitchens, Gracelynn Kitchens, Devin Jr., Prestyn, Roman, and Avalanna Kitchens; brother: Myron Roth, sisters-in-law Judy Roth and Sharyl Roth; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.   
She is preceded in death by her parents, ex-husband Kenneth Kitchens; great grandsons: James Buettner and infant Noah Kitchens; sisters and brothers-in-law: Rosella (Sally) and Ron Butters, Edna (Arlan) Hildenbrand, and Ray Vetter; brothers: Raymond and Larry; and nieces: Katharine Hildenbrand and Patty (Hunter) Suddath.  
Memorial Services will be on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Grafton Lutheran Church, Grafton, ND.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Inurnment will be a Memorial Park South of Grand Forks, ND.