Duane L Walker

Duane Lynn Robert Walker, age 80 of Hoople, ND went to be with Jesus at 11:55 AM on Monday, August 21, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Center of Park River, ND. The world lost a kind, gentle, faithful, husband, father and grandfather; Jesus gained an angel.

Duane Lynn Robert Walker was born September 8, 1936 to Thomas and Linnea (Larson) Walker, rural Hoople. He lived his entire life on the family farm in Dundee Township and received his education in Dundee #90 and Hoople High School. He married Jeanne Monson at Park River, ND on June 29, 1957 and they had five children. Dewey (as he liked to be called) began farming with his father and brother, Kenneth. They raised small grain, sunflowers, irrigated potatoes and corn. He also had a feedlot for Holstein steers for slaughter. He drove semi-truck from 1957-1962 and was a heater man for Western Fruit Express and Burlington Northern Railroad from 1962-1979. In 1964 Dewey and his brother, Kenneth started Walkers Water Service of Pisek, ND and it is still in operation today. Dewey continued to run the family farm until his retirement in 2003 when he met his soul mate, Ginny Davis and they were married August 30, 2003. After his retirement he worked for George and Tim Hurtt driving tractors or working on trucks, whatever was needed until 2009.

Dewey served 50 years as supervisor on the Dundee Township Board, he was a member of the Gideon’s and was a very active member of Park Center Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. He served on the board of directors at the Park River Bible Camp and Hoople Farmers Grain Elevator. He peeled potatoes for the Bible Camp lutefisk dinner each year for several years. Dewey was an avid outdoorsman. He loved being outside no matter the weather. His love of outdoor sports kept him cross country skiing, golfing, mountain climbing and frozen waterfall (icicle) climbing well into his 70’s. He especially loved the mountains, but his passion was to be working in his shop getting dirty or to be driving in the car anywhere-he just wanted to be going someplace. He was the kind of person who would drop everything when a friend called and needed help. The only person Dewey wouldn’t call a friend was one he hadn’t met yet. Dewey was a true family man, wanted to be and do things with his family all the time. He didn’t miss many grandkids programs etc. He loved his family.

Dewey was preceded in death by his parents, baby sister, two brothers and daughter, Judy Carlson. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Ginny Walker, four children: Jeff (Tammy) Walker, Bozeman, MT; Rick (Val) Walker, Hoople, ND; DeeDee Carlson (Bryan Budge), Grand Forks, ND; Nancy (Ed) Miller, Grafton, ND; three step-children: Stephanie (Kyle) Berns, Colorado Springs, CO; Steven (Kathryn) Davis, Detroit Lakes, MN; Lance Davis, Brainerd, MN; 18 grandchildren; 7 ¾ great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, three brother-in-laws and three sister-in-laws. Dewey was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

Funeral services will be Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 2:00 at Grace Free Lutheran Church, Edinburg, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River, ND. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Park Center Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hoople, ND.