Yvonne Walstad

Leila Yvonne Walstad, age 87 of Park River, ND passed away on December 14, 2018.

In a twinkling of an eye, she joined a Heavenly choir singing praises to God the Father.

She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family and friends. Yvonne was the Proverbs 31 woman in our lives. In her youth, she was a wonderful daughter, supportive sister and a good friend. As a young mother, our earliest childhood memories are filled with her singing all day, every day, while she cared for us. She was our father’s best friend and his perfect, lifelong mate. She was a woman not sympathetic to all causes but fiercely empathetic to anyone in need. Yvonne was truly interested in everyone she met; rarely did the words “I or me” come off her tongue. Yvonne was a patriot of these United States.   Yvonne was a devoted Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ and thanked Him for the blessings He bestowed on her and those she loved. In her words, “God has been so good to me”.

Yvonne Chapman was born December 4, 1931 at Grafton Deaconess Hospital, daughter of the late Leonard “Chap” and Lillian “Lil” (Kohnen) Chapman. Yvonne graduated from the Walsh County Ag School in 1949 and attended the University of North Dakota until she returned home to care for her parents. Yvonne married her high school sweetheart, George Walstad, on June 3, 1951 at her parent’s home in Park River. Her father Chap had passed away two months earlier on April 3, 1951 and her mother Lil passed away two days after her wedding. Yvonne loved her mother-in-law Joann (Midgarden) Walstad who took her under her wing. She said Joann would send her to “the aunts” to learn a new stitch, a new dish, or just a cup of coffee and advice.

George joined the US Army in October 1952 and he and Yvonne moved to Fort Knox, KY where they were blessed with their daughter, Laurelyn (Laurie) on May 23, 1953. The young family moved back to rural Hoople, ND after discharge from the Army where they continued to farm the land homesteaded by George’s grandfather, Gunerius Walstad. They farmed until 1973 when George became a partner in Rutherford Potato Company in Burlington, Iowa. Yvonne was an active member of the community in Burlington where they were members of Messiah Lutheran Church. Yvonne became a licensed realtor which she thoroughly enjoyed.   She was also a member of PEO and King’s Walk in Burlington.

In 1985, the couple moved to Colorado to spend time with their son Craig and his wife Joan, but mostly to meet their young grandsons. Yvonne cherished her time with her grandchildren and was a wonderful Grandmother. While in the Colorado Front Range, Yvonne worked with West America Mortgage and the IRS. Yvonne often commented how much she enjoyed working because she met so many interesting people.

George and Yvonne moved “back home” to North Dakota in July 1987 where they “picked up right where they left off”. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church rural Hoople. Yvonne was active in her church and the community. She was a life-long member of Zion WELCA, Countryside Homemakers, Park River American Legion Auxiliary, PEO Chapter Q, and leader of the Hoople Happy Hustlers 4-H club.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Duane, Corrine, and Blair, and three nephews. She is survived by her husband George of 67 years, daughter Laurie and (Dick) Larson, Park River and son Craig and (Joan) Colorado; five grandchildren, Brandon (Sally) Larson, Wendy (Andy) Berntson, Chase (Raquel) Walstad, Garrett (Kahla) Walstad and Brock Walstad; Nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and relatives.

The memorial service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church rural Hoople on Saturday, December 22 ^nd at 2:00 pm. A visitation will take place preceding the service at 1:00 pm and coffee will be served following the service.