Gary M. Knutson, age 85, passed away Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at his home in Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Gary M. Knutson was born September 26, 1936 in Churchs Ferry, North Dakota to Magnus Knutson and Inga Johnson Knutson.  Gary graduated from Churchs Ferry High School in 1954.  He served in the United States Marine Corps from November 1954 to November 1957 and was proud to be a Marine.  He married Winnifred Sjoberg September 7, 1958.  They made their home in Wahpeton, North Dakota while he attended the Wahpeton School of Science from 1958 to 1960.  From there they moved to Devils Lake North Dakota where Gary first worked on the Sjoberg and Knutson farms and then farmed them with Winnifred until 1991 when he retired.  He worked for other farmers in the community who needed an extra hand through 1996 and did some volunteer work at the Lake Region Heritage Center.
Gary was a life member of the Elks and enjoyed the relationships he formed there over the years.
Gary liked hunting and fishing.  Gary also enjoyed traveling with Winnifred around North Dakota, eastern Montana and western Minnesota.  They would look to spend the night in smaller towns where they would go to the local bar or restaurant and visit with the local people to find out about them and their community.  
Gary is survived by his children Karla (Rick) Halldorson, Enderlin, ND, Renae (Norris) Elshaug, Devils Lake and John (Kara) Knutson, Grand Forks; grandchildren Kristian Halldorson, Mitchell (Alisha) Halldorson, Aaron (Bethany) Elshaug, Marti (Matthew) Curtis, Hannah (Mitch) Martinson and Connor Knutson; 13 great-grandchildren, sister, Shirley (William) Barkie, several nieces and a nephew.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Magnus and Inga Knutson, and his wife Winnifred Knutson.   

​Oscar “Ozzie” A. Lauzon, son of Albert and Ellen Lauzon was called home by our Lord Tuesday October 12 2021 at 5:30pm.  He contracted Covid -19 1 week earlier and died peacefully surrounded by his family at Altru hospital. 
Oscar was born in Grafton North Dakota on September 6, 1936.  He was preceded in death by his wife Janet (Williamson) Lauzon, his parents and 4 sisters Lorraine Freeman, Olive Brosious, Bernice Nelson and Margie Lauzon. 
Oscar was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, The Fraternity Order of the Grafton Eagles, and the Valley City Lion’s club. Oscar loved fishing, especially with his son Todd, and was an avid word carver. 
Oscar leaves behind his two children, Teryl (Scott) Clendenin, Todd (Christine) Lauzon, and four grandchildren. 
Private family services were held. An online guest book is available at: www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com.

​Eva Westby, 95, of Langdon, ND, and formerly of Fairdale, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 10, 2021, at Maple Manor Care Center in Langdon, ND.
Eva Emma Westby was born December 2, 1925, to Louis and Mary (Mess) Krom. She was the last survivor of 11 children. Eva was raised in the Nekoma, ND, area where she received her education. On November 11, 1952, she was united in marriage to Raymond Westby. Following their marriage, they farmed near Fairdale, ND, where six children were born. Ray passed away on July 15, 2006.
She was a member of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church of Fairdale and later the United Lutheran Church of Langdon. Eva had many interests including: playing games and cards, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, gardening and baking. She was a gentle, soft-spoken woman who never complained. Eva was a very devoted wife and mother.
Survivors include her children: Mary (Marshall) Engblom of Champlin, MN, Bruce Westby, Dennis (April) Westby all of Langdon, ND, Shirley Gustafson (John Tibert) of Minto, ND, Roger Westby of Milton, ND, and Lori (Roy) Poole of New Market, AL. Preceding her in death were her parents, Louis and Mary Krom; husband Raymond; two sisters: Anna and Mary; and eight brothers: Peter, Joe, Rudolph, Charlie, Tom, Louis Jr., Victor and Donny.
The family of Eva wants to thank all the staff at Maple Manor Care Center for all the great care and love given to their mom.
A private memorial service will be held at the Brooks Funeral Home in Langdon, ND, with burial in the Silvesta Cemetery near Fairdale, ND.

William James Diaz, 19 of Belcourt and Fort Totten ND passed away on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at Belcourt ND.
The Wake for Will will be on Friday, October 15, 2021 at the Fort Totten Wellness Center beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 7:00 p.m.  The procession to Fort Totten will leave on Friday at 4:00 p.m. from City Plaza, Devils Lake.
Funeral Services will be on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Fort Totten Wellness Center with Reverend Antony Samy officiating.  Burial will be in St. Jerome’s Cemetery, rural Fort Totten ND.
William James, son of James Francisco and Janette (Tomahawk) Diaz was born on March 30, 2002 at Devils Lake ND.  He grew up in Crow Hill, attended the St. Michael’s Head Start and Four Winds from the 4th through 8th grade.   He participated in football in middle school and was the quarterback. 
Will loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and being with friends and family.  He always had a smile and his family and friends were the world to him.  He loved music and was learning to dance.  At the time of his death, he was working at Speedy’s Stop in Belcourt. 
Will has left us too soon.  As his family, we hold him in our hearts, our memories forever. 
Will’s family include his mother Janette Tomahawk; brothers Andres Tomahawk, Jamison Diaz and DeShawnta Diaz; sister Delisha Burns; nieces and nephew Amiah Burns, Zylie LaRocque, Journey LaRocque Jr. and a niece soon to be born; grandparents Frenchie Brown, Delphine Tomahawk and Edith Peltier; aunts and uncles Sharon Feather, Faith Tomahawk, Hope Tomahawk, William Tomahawk Jr., Oralia “Lolly” Diaz, Irene Diaz, JR Diaz, Chico Diaz and Joseph “Lonnie” Gourd Sr. and many dear cousins. 
He was preceded in death by his father James, sister Julia Marie Diaz, grandparents William Tomahawk Sr., Julia Peltier, Mary Louise (Brown) Diaz, Porfirio Diaz, Joyce Peltier, Andrea Peltier, Florestine Peltier, Lois Peltier, Frederick Peltier, and Larry Peltier, cousins Kiara Green and Philip Krulish and many dear aunts, uncles and relatives.
If we forgot to name anyone, please forgive us as it was not intentional. We are doing our best in these very sad and difficult days.
Active Pallbearers will be Andres Tomahawk, Jamison Diaz, Anthony Diaz, Alex LaRocque, Joseph L. Gourd Jr., Chico Diaz, Journey LaRocque and C.J. LaRocque.  Honorary Bearers will be all those dear ones who were they for my son William “Will”, special cousins Whisper Gourd and Mystique Gourd.  Music by Cuthead Sioux Drum Group and all other Drum Groups and Singers are welcome to share their songs in memory of Will. 

On July 19, 1939 Aarnout Poppe was born in the Dutch village of Ritthem, the second child of Joos and Neeltje Poppe-Aarnoutse.  His earlier years were overshadowed by World War 2 and its aftereffects. The family lived with other families whose homes survived and even, while waiting for a farm in Rozenburg to be built, in an abandoned Red Cross bunker.   
When Aarnout went to school he had to take a ferry, and the long pier was so dangerous that school was cancelled whenever there was frost.  In 1956 he went to the ‘Middlebaare Landbouw School’, the agricultural secondary school, and lived with his widowed Opa for two winters, a time he valued highly.  In 1958, his family moved to the newly reclaimed Noord Oost Polder, but the next year he returned to Rozenburg and asked Alida Roorda to be his girlfriend.  They were engaged in December 1960. 
From October 1959 to the spring of 1961, Aarnout served in the military as a paramedic, working in both the Netherlands and France.  Letters flew back and forth between the couple.  There was a housing shortage, but early in 1964 Aarnout and Ali were finally able to find a house in Nagele, close to the farm where Aarnout worked with his dad.  They were married February 26, 1964, and Nancy, Sylvia, and Annet were born in this house. 
As Aarnout wrote in Alida’s obituary just a few months ago,  
In the meantime we were looking for a farm to start on our own but that was next to impossible.  Then the thinking to emigrate came.  After many preparations we could immigrate to Chatham, Ontario, Canada…. We lived and worked on a farm close to Chatham with much pleasure.  We made many friends and had Oom Piet and Tante Jo who sponsored our immigration a half hour drive away. 
But to start on our own was not easy, also there.  Should we go to Manitoba?  Another 2000 km west? We went.  Everyone and everything in a U-Haul truck.  Art started with working for farmers who were growing potatoes.  We lived on a farm that belonged to one of the farmers he worked for.  And so we settled there in April 1969 and we live there still.  The log house was cozy and warm.  Ali had a garden of veggies and … flowers.  Ali’s delight.  
We had a dog and cats and later cows and hogs.  In May 1970 the place came up for sale!  And our bid was accepted and we became farmers! Here Josh, Judith and Elsa were born.  Here we grew up as parents and children, as family!  We received many blessings from the Lord!   
Aarnout, or Art, loved his family. He also had room in his heart for many friends and neighbors and brothers and sisters in the Lord.  He served in church, school, and agricultural organizations.  After retiring, he and Alida, or Alice, travelled to visit children and grandchildren as well as family and friends in Canada, the US, the Netherlands, and South Africa. 
When Alice was diagnosed with dementia, Art, with the help of daughter Elsa, took care of her at home for many years. 
Art read a great variety of books and shared his love for learning with his children, grandchildren, and friends.  Many a grandchild loves history thanks to Opa’s inspiration. Many emails passed back and forth between him and his brothers and cousins about the history of Rozenburg and Zeeland during and after the war. Alice was not able to share in this passion, but even toward the end of her life her gentle smile and grateful attitude was a blessing.   
Alice went to be with the Lord June 5, 2021.  A few months later Art travelled to Ontario and BC to visit the children and grandchildren he had not been able to visit while he was caring for her. Then, just four months after Alice’s funeral, the Lord called him home, too.  He had been trying to understand how to serve his heavenly Father in his new situation but that is no longer necessary.  He trusted in the Lord who was near to him in his short illness and now his work here, as a good and faithful servant of God, is finished.   
We thank the Lord for the dear and godly father he gave us.  To God be praise and adoration! 
Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Food Grains Bank.

Mya R. Paulson, age 15 of Hoople, ND passed away on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at the First Care Health Center of Park River.
Mya Paulson was born September 21, 2006 in Olympia, WA, the daughter of Robert and Michelle (Nickel) Paulson.  The family moved to Hoople, ND in 2010 and she attended school in Hoople, Crystal and Edinburg where she was currently in her freshman year.
She was a girl scout and enjoyed playing basketball and volleyball.  She loved to hang out with her friends and her brothers.
Mya is survived by her parents Robert (Michelle), Hoople, ND, brothers: Anthony, Grafton, ND and Cylus, Hoople, ND, maternal grandmother Laura Nickel, Hoople, ND, paternal grandparents Debbie Willms, CO and Keith Paulson, Bellevue, NE, uncles: Eddy Crook, CO and Thomas Robinson, Olympia, WA.  She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather Dave Nickel and uncle Shawn Nickel.
A visitation will be held Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 3-5 PM at the First Lutheran Church of Hoople.  A prayer service will follow at 5:00 PM at the church.  Memorials have been requested to the American Diabetes Association.

Darlene G. Henschel, 84, of Bathgate, ND passed away Sunday, October 3, 2021 at Valley Senior Living Center, Grand Forks, ND with her children by her side. Funeral service will be held Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Family requests that masks be worn.
Darlene G. Wolfgram was born on October 18th, 1936 in Shields, ND to Harry and Lora “Myrtle” Wolfgram. She grew up in Hamilton, ND and graduated from Hamilton High School. On June 20th, 1954 she married William (Bill) A. Henschel in Neche, ND. After their marriage they lived in Neche and then Bathgate until shortly before her death.

Family was extremely important to Darlene and she loved spending time with them. She also enjoyed bingo, 5 cent slot machines at the casino and watching her favorite TV shows. She recently developed a love for NBA and WWE. Darlene was known for being a very hard working and dependable employee. She worked for many years at the Pioneer Rest Home in Bathgate, Chuckwagon Cafe in Cavalier and up until her 80th birthday at Reiny's Bar in Bathgate.

Darlene is survived by her children Shirley Kemp, Fargo, ND and William (Bill) and Ramona Henschel Jr. of Neche, ND; her grandchildren Christopher Kemp (Marijo Peterson), Las Vegas, NV, Sarah (Nathan) Kemp Tabbut, Fargo, ND, Nicolas (Katie) Henschel, Swansea, IL, and Jacob (Christina) Henschel, Pelham, NH; her great-grandchildren Nora, Samuel, and Felix Tabbut, Lucas, Lexi. Lauren and Lana Henschel, Caroline, Savannah and Benjamin Henschel. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, great-grandson John Christopher Tabbut, siblings Eva (Lester) Nelson, Fern (Fred) Marcum, Virgil (Myrna) Wolfgram, Donna (Reinhold) Henschel, Gerald (Cheryl) Wolfgram and Shirley (Eric) Lawonn.

Family would like to extend special thanks to Ramona Henschel who provided countless meals and numerous trips for groceries, Karla Henschel, Leah Austfjord, Teddy Zaharia and the Bathgate community for making it possible for Darlene to stay in her home as long as she did.

Harold Leonard Sherland, 66 of Devils Lake was found passed away on October 3rd, 2021 at his home.
A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at the Devils Lake Cemetery with Reverend Michael Rohrer officiating.
Harold was born in Cando, ND on December 21, 1954, the son of Leonard and Colleen (Bragg) Sherland.   He went to grade school in Washington State and then Prairie View elementary in Devils Lake. He graduated in 1973 from Devils Lake Central High School.
Harold had several jobs throughout his life, a bouncer in bars, a blackjack dealer and a Correctional Officer. He enjoyed all of his jobs.
Harold was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to sit down and talk about his hunting and fishing stories he had to tell.  Many people knew him as “Grizz”.  His license plate even displayed this title.
In 1987 he married Shelley Hassett and from that marriage they had 3 beautiful children, Jeremiah, Christopher and Tiffany.  They later divorced.
Harold is survived by his loving family, son Jeremiah (Chessa) Sherland of Lakota ND; daughter Tiffany Sherland also of Lakota; granddaughters Sophia Sherland of Lakota, Chloe Kenner of Devils Lake, and Cara Sateren of Lakota; mother Colleen Saari of Devils Lake; siblings Leona (Paul) Schuster of New Rockford ND, Kelly Saari and Kevin Saari both of Devils Lake, Lori (Tim) Voeller of Minot ND, Rory (Karen) Saari also Devils Lake; many nieces and nephews and several aunts and cousins. 
Harold was preceded in death by his father Leonard, son Christopher, step-father Edward Saari, grandparents Earl and Hilda Sherland, Jerome and Evelyn Bragg, step-grandparents Sam and Elsie Saari, niece Lisa Schuster, great nephew Andrew Schwab and several aunts and uncles.

Rose M. Kalis, 74, of Walhalla, ND passed away Sunday, October 3, 2021 at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Walhalla, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services.
Rose Compeau was born March 12, 1947 at Walhalla, ND to George and Mary (Bartlette) Compeau. She grew up in Walhalla where she attended school. Rose then lived in Grand Forks before moving back to Walhalla.
On November 2, 1968, she married George Kalis at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla. After their marriage they lived in Walhalla where she was the bookkeeper for Kalis Masonry Construction.
Things she enjoyed were painting, sculpturing, crocheting, and being outdoors gardening. Most of all she loved spending time with her family, fur baby and grand fur babies.
She is survived by her husband, George, daughter, Tammy (Jed) Sullivan, Walhalla, ND, Autumn Forschen, who she treated and related to as a daughter, and grandson, Kieran Sullivan. Also survived by her sisters: Lila Baker and Lou Ann Dauphanis, and by her nieces, nephews, and numerous cousins.
Preceding her in death were her parents, sisters: Elizabeth Anderson and Mary Compeau, and her beloved fur babies.
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