Posts Categorized

In Remembrance

D. Jerome (Jerry) Tweton, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in Fessenden, N.D., on Nov. 20, 2019. A tribute to Jerry will be held in Grand Forks later in the spring. The 86-year old noted educator and author taught and headed the history department at […]

Dorothy Ann Lunski, retired Dining Services worker, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Nov. 23, 2019 at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks. She was 83. Dorothy was born April 22, 1936, in Grafton to Valentine and Amelia (Wesolowski) Rolczynski of Warsaw, N.D. Her parents moved to Alvarado, Minn., where she was […]

Carla Hess, retired professor of speech pathology, died Sept. 23, 2019 at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks. She was 78. Carla Marie was born Aug. 29, 1941, to Elsie Belle née Evans and Orville Henry Wulff of Billings, MT. Carla, and Elsie’s sons from a previous marriage, Charles Eugene “Gene” & Elmer Lewis “Duke” […]

Lane Edward Jackson, retired power plant supervisor, age 89, died at Altru Hospital Oct. 8, 2019, after suffering a heart attack in his home in Grand Forks. Lane was born on Jan. 7, 1930, to Archie Jackson and Pauline (Furstenau) Jackson in Walhalla, N.D. He grew up in Walhalla working many jobs including in his […]

Edward S. Halas, retired professor of psychology, passed away at Altru Hospital on Sept. 12, 2019, as a result of complications associated with a recent accident. Edward, the first child of his Slovak immigrant parents, was born in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 21. From an early age, he valued learning and possessed a keen interest […]

Vivien E. Rude, retired office manager for Food Services, passed peacefully on Aug. 5, 2019, at Valley Eldercare in Grand Forks. She was 97. She was born in Devils Lake, N.D., on Dec. 30, 1921 to Alma (Sagen) and Leonard Christen. Vivien graduated from Devils Lake High School and from Aaker’s Business College in Grand […]

Fred Arlin “Jake” Jacobson, retired locksmith, of Dent, Minn., died on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Detroit Lakes, Minn., He was 85. Jake was born in Grand Forks, N.D., on June 25, 1934, the son of Fred and Martha Marie (Bagne) Jacobson. He grew up on a farm in rural […]

Dr. Richard Arlan Olafson, neurosurgeon and former dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences southeast (Fargo) campus, passed peacefully on July 27, 2019. He earned both his undergraduate degree at UND as well as his B.S. in medicine in 1957.  After his M.D. training and a neurosurgery residency out of state he returned […]

Karen L. Myerchin, longtime staff member in Facilities, passed away Friday, August 2, 2019 at her home in Grand Forks. She was 69. Karen Lea (Bauer) Myerchin was born February 4, 1950 in Red Wing, MN the daughter of Henry and Rita (Wild) Bauer. She grew up on a farm in Ellsworth, WI, graduating from […]

Roland Deloy (RD) Mower, former geography professor and chair, passed away July 8, 2019, at the age of 90, in Utah. Born on Christmas Day in 1928 in Mount Pleasant, Utah, RD lived in Fairview, Utah, where he attended school through the 9th grade when he dropped out to join the Navy at age 16. […]

Lisa Marie Burger, Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Services, of Grand Forks, passed away at Valley Memorial Homes on July 17 with her husband, Gerrad Burger, at her side. She was 50 years old. Lisa Beltz was born Dec. 2, 1968 at the Hillsboro Community Hospital in Hillsboro, N.D., to Mike and Cheryl (Berg) Beltz. […]

Melquiades “Carla” Ripley, 67, of Grand Forks, died July 3, 2019 at Altru Hospital. Melquiades (Carla) Marie Avila was born in Bulverde, Texas on June 6, 1952 and grew up in East Grand Forks. She worked in the sugar beet fields with her brothers and sisters in her youth and graduated from Sacred Heart High […]

Aloisius Xavier “Al” Hoffarth, retired vice president for operations and finance, of Bemidji, Minn., formerly of Grand Forks, ND, died June 27 at Altru Hospital from complications of a stroke. He was 76. Al Hoffarth was born to Michael and Frances Hoffarth on June 16, 1943, in Langdon, N.D. He attended school in Mt. Carmel […]

Aldene Delores Avery, retired food service worker, of East Grand Forks, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2019. She was 95. Aldene was born July 25, 1923 in Gonvick, Minn., the second of three children to Joseph Alvin Lenes and Otelia Quern Lenes. After graduating from Gonvick High School, she moved with friends to Bremerton, Wash., […]

LaVonne Russell Hootman, retired nursing professor, died June 27 2019 at Valley Elder Care in Grand Forks. She was 87. LaVonne Jolene Kleven was born November 11, 1931, to John B. Kleven and Lillian (Austreng) Kleven. She graduated from Grand Forks Central High School where she was involved in numerous groups and activities. LaVonne married […]