David John Lawrence Collette

David J. Collette, age 87 of Grafton ND, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the Lutheran Sunset home in Grafton.

David John Lawrence Collette was born on June 12, 1930 in Grafton, ND, the son of the late Maria (French) and Silvio Collette.  David grew up north of Oakwood, ND.  He and his sister Germaine were never too far apart, when you saw one you saw the other. He enjoyed playing in the haystack, and by the river.  He graduated from St. Aloysius Academy in Oakwood.  He later would attend business school in Grand Forks and then began work as an accountant for the City of Grafton.  He worked for thirty plus years for the city of Grafton before he retired. David farmed with his brothers; raising sugar beets, small grains and potatoes.

David began playing the organ at Sacred Heart Church in Oakwood at the age of 15 and continued this for many years.  Later in life David moved to Park River and was the organist at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Playing the organ and piano were some of his most favorite past times.  He also enjoyed reading the Wall Street Journal, attending horse racing, and watching western movies.  David was a kind, gentle and loving man. He was a favorite to many of his nieces and nephews.  He entered the Lutheran Sunset Home at Grafton, ND in 2015.

David is survived by his sister, Germaine Perkerewicz-Schultz, Mandan ND; sister-in-law Alma Collette (Louis), Grafton, ND.  Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.  He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters: Alice Collette, Bernadette Gallagher (Jim), and Marie Blanch Collette; Seven brothers: Louis, Lionell, Bruno, Daniel, Antonio, Dominic, and Gerard; two nephews: Donald Collette and Mark Collette and one niece, Alice Gallagher-Osborne.

Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 10:30 A.M. at the St. John Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton.  Friends may also call at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Oakwood in the spring.