Annie Erlyse Daley Kingsbury

Annie Daley Kingsbury, age 87 of Fargo, formerly of Grafton, passed away on Sunday, October 30 in Fargo surrounded by loving family and supported by hospice. Annie Erlyse Lawson was born on November 13, 1923, at home on the family farm west of Park River, North Dakota, to Etta May (Coulter) and James Lamb Lawson, the fifth of six children. She attended elementary school in Park River and graduated as valedictorian from the Walsh County Agricultural School in 1941. On March 27, 1942, Annie married Francis M. (Lob) Daley of Mandt. After Lob's service in World War II, the family moved to Nash where they raised their children: Barbara Ann, Thomas James, Dee Lynne, Janet Faye, Lona Kay, Ted Allan, and Michael Francis. Dee Lynne died of leukemia in 1953 at the age of four. Annie was actively involved in her community and the lives of her children as a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Double M Homemakers, the Nash Nifties 4-H Club, the Nash School Mothers' Club, and the Walsh County Curling Club. Besides being a loving wife and mom, Annie was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed quilting and latchhooking, was a lifelong reader, and an avid sports fan. She stressed the importance of a good education on to her children and was proud that they all graduated from college. Lob Daley died unexpectedly on October 12, 1971, at the age of 48. After her sons graduated from high school, Annie fulfilled a long-held dream to attend college and enrolled at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in Fall 1974. She graduated with honors in December 1978 with a degree in library science and audiovisual instruction. Annie was elected to the UND Mortar Board Society in 1978. She worked at the Grand Forks Central High School library for a time following graduation, and moved to Fargo in 1983. In addition to spending time with her children and grandchildren, Annie traveled widely, from Australia and New Zealand to Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe. On March 4, 1988, she married Harley Kingsbury of Grafton, a long-time family friend and state legislator, at the Federated Church in Grafton. They were blessed with eighteen years of marriage, living between Grafton and their home in Mesa. Harley died on April 24, 2006, at the age of 93. From June 2007 through September 2011, Annie lived at Sheyenne Crossings in West Fargo, and spent her final days living with her daughter and son-in-law, Lona and Bob Getz of Fargo. Annie will be remembered with love by her children: Barbara (Jack) Hanson, Burnsville, MN; Tom (Karen) Daley, Wausau, WI; Janet (George) Jury, Bismarck; Lona (Bob) Getz, Fargo; Ted (Cathy) Daley, Bakersfield, CA; Mike (Maren) Daley, Bismarck; 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Florence Lawson and Neva Lawson, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her stepchildren: Bill (Joyce) Kingsbury, Grafton; Patti (Duane) Ganyo, Nine Mile Falls, WA; Ralph (Cheryl) Kingsbury, Grafton; Linda (Don) Carlson, Fargo; Joyce (Leo) Staskavige, Wenatchee, WA; their 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, and Harley's sister, Vivian Nelson. Annie was the last surviving member of her immediate family, preceded in death by her brothers, Ralph, Melvin, and David Lawson, sisters, Geneva (Maynard) Veum and Ethel (Joe) Borkowski; and Lob's family: Leroy (Steffie) Daley, Quintin (Lorraine) Daley, Merle (Marilyn and his second wife, Mary Ann Daley, and LaMae (Burr) Weiland. A celebration of Annie's life will be on Saturday, November 5 at 11:00 A.M. at the Federated Church, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be on Friday beginning at 5:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 6:30 at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Hoople. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of your choice.