George Alexander Lewis, 92, of Rocklake, ND, passed away Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at the Towner County Living Center in Cando, ND. He received an invitation from his beloved wife, Shirley Lewis, that he couldn’t refuse—come join me in heaven. He is celebrating Christmas with Shirley and dancing until the late hours of the evening. He left instructions for his children to celebrate his life here on earth once his time was done. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 1 p.m. at the Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home in Cando, ND. Burial will be at the All Nations Lutheran Cemetery, Rocklake, ND, following the service. Casket bearers are Gary Badding, Terrance Henriksen, Gary Hunt, Kim Kemp, Cody Lewis, David Lewis, and Aaron Thompson. Honorary casket bearers are members of the Brumwell-Gray American Legion Post 276.
Memorials are preferred to All Nations Lutheran Cemetery Fund, Brumwell-Gray Legion Post 276, or the Towner County Medical Center Auxiliary.
George Lewis was born on October 27, 1929 to Samuel and Annie Lewis in Cavalier County, ND. He was raised on the family farm and attended school in Calvin, ND. He met Shirley Pantsari at a dance in Rocklake and they fell in love. They were married September 29, 1950. The couple lived in Calvin and eventually moved to the Rocklake area in 1962 and continued to make Rocklake their home. He was married to his wife, Shirley, for 64 years when she passed away in 2015.
Shirley and George spent summers camping at Rock Lake, Canada, for over 30 years. After retirement, they spent 15 winters in Edinburg, TX. George was very active in the community. He loved woodworking and spent many hours in his shop on various projects. He loved to camp and fish but most of all, he loved to tell stories. He looked forward to the Saturday Breakfast Club every Saturday morning at the Rock Lake Café before he became a resident of the Towner County Living Center in Cando in 2019. His last wishes were to be able to see all of his great grandchildren while he was alive and to make a trip to the Lewis (Badding) farm in Cavalier County. Both wishes were granted.
He went to Minot State Teachers College in 1949 when he was drafted and served in the Army’s 113th Anti-Aircraft Artillery as a Fire Control Specialist. He went to Radar School at Fort Bliss, TX and was sent to Fort Sheridan in LaGrange, IL. He monitored the skies over Chicago during the Korean War. George remained on the inactive reserve following his active service and was discharged in 1953. After his discharge, he went back to college and graduated from Minot State Teachers College in 1957. He taught school before joining the US Customs Service in 1962. He served as Port Director of Customs at Hansboro, ND, for over 31 years. He had a total of 35 years of government service when he retired in 1994.
George joined the Brumwell-Gray American Legion Post 276 in Sarles, ND, in 1960. He was the longest serving active member at the time of his passing. He participated in the Honor Flight for Korean War Veterans in 2017. Last summer, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his service during the Korean War.
George is survived by his children, Cheryl Lewis of Rocklake, ND; Marilyn (Carl) Thoreson of Vero Beach, FL; Laurel (Keith) Vorachek of Sun City West, AZ; Evonne (Lauren) Langerud of Kent, WA; and David Lewis of Ash Grove, MO; grandchildren Aaron (Katie) Thompson of Menomonee Falls, WI; Amber Thompson of Madison, WI; Lindsey Vorachek (Joshua Evans) of Anchorage, AK; Kasey (Kurtis) Mitchell of Pacific, WA; Kelly (Ian) McCoy of Everett, WA; David Lewis of St. Louis, MO, and Cody Lewis of Marionville, MO; and great grandchildren Nolan, Elliot and Allie Thompson; Kendall and Camryn Evans; and Aria McCoy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Annie Lewis; brothers Austin and Buell Lewis; sisters Thelma Kennedy and Una Mae Henriksen, nephew Edward Rohlfs, and niece Susan Henriksen Knutson.
Memorials are preferred to All Nations Lutheran Cemetery Fund, Brumwell-Gray Legion Post 276, or the Towner County Medical Center Auxiliary.
George Lewis was born on October 27, 1929 to Samuel and Annie Lewis in Cavalier County, ND. He was raised on the family farm and attended school in Calvin, ND. He met Shirley Pantsari at a dance in Rocklake and they fell in love. They were married September 29, 1950. The couple lived in Calvin and eventually moved to the Rocklake area in 1962 and continued to make Rocklake their home. He was married to his wife, Shirley, for 64 years when she passed away in 2015.
Shirley and George spent summers camping at Rock Lake, Canada, for over 30 years. After retirement, they spent 15 winters in Edinburg, TX. George was very active in the community. He loved woodworking and spent many hours in his shop on various projects. He loved to camp and fish but most of all, he loved to tell stories. He looked forward to the Saturday Breakfast Club every Saturday morning at the Rock Lake Café before he became a resident of the Towner County Living Center in Cando in 2019. His last wishes were to be able to see all of his great grandchildren while he was alive and to make a trip to the Lewis (Badding) farm in Cavalier County. Both wishes were granted.
He went to Minot State Teachers College in 1949 when he was drafted and served in the Army’s 113th Anti-Aircraft Artillery as a Fire Control Specialist. He went to Radar School at Fort Bliss, TX and was sent to Fort Sheridan in LaGrange, IL. He monitored the skies over Chicago during the Korean War. George remained on the inactive reserve following his active service and was discharged in 1953. After his discharge, he went back to college and graduated from Minot State Teachers College in 1957. He taught school before joining the US Customs Service in 1962. He served as Port Director of Customs at Hansboro, ND, for over 31 years. He had a total of 35 years of government service when he retired in 1994.
George joined the Brumwell-Gray American Legion Post 276 in Sarles, ND, in 1960. He was the longest serving active member at the time of his passing. He participated in the Honor Flight for Korean War Veterans in 2017. Last summer, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his service during the Korean War.
George is survived by his children, Cheryl Lewis of Rocklake, ND; Marilyn (Carl) Thoreson of Vero Beach, FL; Laurel (Keith) Vorachek of Sun City West, AZ; Evonne (Lauren) Langerud of Kent, WA; and David Lewis of Ash Grove, MO; grandchildren Aaron (Katie) Thompson of Menomonee Falls, WI; Amber Thompson of Madison, WI; Lindsey Vorachek (Joshua Evans) of Anchorage, AK; Kasey (Kurtis) Mitchell of Pacific, WA; Kelly (Ian) McCoy of Everett, WA; David Lewis of St. Louis, MO, and Cody Lewis of Marionville, MO; and great grandchildren Nolan, Elliot and Allie Thompson; Kendall and Camryn Evans; and Aria McCoy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Annie Lewis; brothers Austin and Buell Lewis; sisters Thelma Kennedy and Una Mae Henriksen, nephew Edward Rohlfs, and niece Susan Henriksen Knutson.