Bruce L. Fagerholt

Bruce Leonard Fagerholt, 75, of Hoople, ND, passed away on January 7th, 2024, at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, ND after a long journey with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Bruce was born on June 14, 1948, in Grafton, the son of Leonard and Elaine (Westby) Fagerholt. He grew up on the family homestead farm south of Hoople, the fifth generation to live there. He attended rural Gryte School for three years before attending Hoople School, graduating in 1966. He then attended North Dakota State University where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho and Army ROTC, graduating with a B.S. in Animal Science in 1970. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served for two years, deploying to Vietnam from 1971-1972, where he received a Bronze Star.

He met Susan Spies while they were attending NDSU, and they were married on July 7, 1973, in Hope, ND. They made their home on the family farm south of Hoople, where he farmed for over forty years; first with his father, then later with his son, Tom.

Bruce’s life was marked by service to his community. He was a life-long member of First Lutheran Church in Hoople, serving on the church council and as a Sunday School teacher. He became a lay pastor with the Eastern ND ELCA Gifts Program in 1989 and served numerous churches in northeast North Dakota through pulpit supply for the following two decades. He served as Walsh County Fair Board president and a 4-H leader, Walsh County Farmers Union Board president, and Walsh County Crop Improvement Board president. He was a Hoople American Legion Commander and served on the Hoople Farmers Grain board, the Valley School Board, and the Hoople Volunteer Ambulance. He was a member of the NODAK Rural Electric board and was a North Dakota Weed Control board president.

Bruce thrived on connecting and visiting with people any chance he could. He was a proud life-long Bison fan in a town full of Sioux fans.  As empty nesters, Bruce and Sue enjoyed traveling together before Alzheimer’s took those opportunities away. While he was able to, he loved to play with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; daughter, Colonel Karen (Colonel Ralph) Radka of Arlington, VA; sons Thomas (Leslie) Fagerholt, Hoople and James (Jamie) Fagerholt, Grand Forks, ND; seven grandchildren - Meredith and Joshua Radka, Milla and Colette Fagerholt, Jack, Claire and Brooks Fagerholt; sister, Bette (Mike) Nelson, West Fargo, ND; step-sister Roberta (Earl) Burger, St. Thomas, ND; sister-in-law Doris Spies, West Fargo, and a host of beloved cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Terry Spies.

A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held on Sunday, January 14th, at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church of Hoople. Visitation will be Saturday, January 13th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at First Lutheran. Military rites will be provided by the Hoople and Grafton American Legion and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Lutheran Sunset Home, the Walsh County Veterans Memorial Foundation, or Park River Bible Camp.