Obituaries

Aug 24, 2025

Joann M. Votava, age 88, passed away Sunday, August 24, 2025 at the First Care Health Center of Park River, North Dakota.

Joann Marie Greicar was born October 20, 1936 on the family farm near Pisek, North Dakota. She attended rural country school until the eighth grade. She worked as a nurse’s aide at St. Ansgar’s Hospital in Park River and...

Aug 21, 2025

Joanne P. Babinski, age 85 of Minto, ND passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at her home in Minto.

An open house celebrating Joanne’s life will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2025 from 4-7 PM at the Minto Community Center.

Aug 20, 2025

Clifford A. Bailly, age 82 of Grafton, North Dakota passed away on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, August 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church of Grafton. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at the North...

Aug 18, 2025

Shirley A. O’Toole, age 89 of Grafton, ND, formerly of Crystal, ND, passed away on Monday, August 18, 2025 at her home in Grafton.

Shirley Vavrovsky was born April 13, 1936 in Grafton, ND, the daughter of the late Bert and Mary (Houska) Vavrovsky. She grew up and attended school in Grafton, graduating from Grafton High School. She was united in...

Aug 16, 2025

Cheryl R. Kraft (Wosick), age 63 of Grafton, ND, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the Park River Good Samaritan Center.

Cheryl was born on October 21, 1961, the daughter of Henry and Stephie (Helmowski) Wosick, in Grafton, ND where she grew up and attended school.

Cheryl worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Grafton State School, when she...

Aug 13, 2025

Leonard R. Novak, age 96 of Grafton, ND, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at the Altru Hospital of Grand Forks.

Leonard Novak was born June 25, 1929 in Walsh County, ND, the son of the late Anton and Margaret (Barta) Novak. He grew up and attended school in the Pisek area. Following his education, he farmed for a short...

Aug 9, 2025

Jon: A Gift from God

Jon was a devoted friend, educator, mentor, counselor, coach, loving son, brother, nephew, uncle and cousin. But his greatest passion in life was being the “Best Dad Ever” to his two children, Harper and Kase. A passion he truly fulfilled.

Jon Patrick Koehmstedt, age 41, of Grafton, ND, passed away tragically on Saturday, August 9th at Cass...

Aug 8, 2025

Carol J. Troftgruben, age 88 of Grand Forks, ND and formerly of Adams, ND passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025 at the Valley Senior Living of Grand Forks.

Carol J. Hanson was born January 12, 1937 in Grafton, ND the daughter of the late Hans and Alice (Watne) Hanson. She grew up and attended school in Fairdale, ND. She also...

Aug 7, 2025

Clayton J. Pokrzywinski, age 89 of Grand Forks, ND and formerly of Lankin, ND passed away on August 7, 2025 at Valley Senior Living, with his daughter by his side.

Clayton Pokrzywinski was born April 23, 1936 in Oslo, MN, the son of the late Walter and Mamie (Witkowski) Pokrzywinski. Clayton was raised and attended school in Oslo. After his education...

Aug 3, 2025

Elizabeth “Betty” L. Lien, age 91 of Grafton, ND passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton.

Betty Louise Duray was born September 22, 1933 to the late William “Bill” and Dorothy (Schultz) Duray, on the farm near Ardoch, ND. She grew up in the Ardoch area and attended school at St. Anthony’s Academy in...

Aug 3, 2025

Arnold L. Monson, age 95 of Grafton, ND passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Center of Park River, ND.

Arnold L. Monson was born on September 21, 1929 on the family farm. Arnold farmed at his home farm until his retirement. He attended country school in Fertile Township, District 29. He was baptized and confirmed in...

Aug 2, 2025

Judy K. Hurth, age 67 of Adams, ND passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at her home.

Judy Hakes was born April 24, 1958 to the late Virgil and Kathryn (Greene) Hakes in Chippewa Falls, WI. She was raised and attended school in Cadott, WI. Judy attended college and began working. She welcomed her beloved children Desiree, Bill, and Shane...

Jul 31, 2025

Del Nygard-much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend passed into the loving arms of Jesus on July 31, 2025.

Delhart D. Nygard was born to Bert and Nellie (Torgeson) on March 16, 1934 in Grand Forks, ND. At the age of 9 years old the family moved to Grafton, ND and he has been a lifelong resident. He graduated from Grafton...

Jul 29, 2025

Gary J. Stensland, age 81 of Edmore, North Dakota passed away Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at the First Care Health Center of Park River, North Dakota.

Gary James Stensland was born May 9, 1944 in Langdon, North Dakota, the son of the late Oliver and Marie (Landsem) Stensland. He graduated from Fairdale High School and Minot State University. He taught and...

Jul 23, 2025

Betty.  Baker, bowler, bingoer, beautiful, blessed.

Betty (LeQuire) Machart was born to Edward and Myrtle LeQuire on September 4, 1933 in Grafton, ND and was called home to heaven on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.  She was the oldest girl in a family of 11 children.  At the age of six years old, she...

Jul 22, 2025

Patricia “Pat” A. Bailly, age 81 of Grafton, ND passed away on July 22, 2025 at her home.

Patricia Ann Shelp was born August 16, 1943 in Langdon, ND to the late Theodore “Ted” and Isabel (Fischer) Shelp. She was raised in Langdon and attended St. Alphonsus Catholic School.

She was united in marriage on...

Jul 20, 2025

Arturo Villarreal, age 58 of Grafton, ND passed away at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND with his family by his side.

Arturo was born January 6, 1967 to the late Daniel Villarreal, Jr. and Maria Susana (Mendoza) Villarreal in Laredo, TX.  His family moved to North Dakota and he was educated in the Forest River and...

Jul 18, 2025

James F. Hobbs, age 88 of Park River, ND passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the Park River Good Samaritan Center.

James Frederick Hobbs was born August 27 1936 in Park River, ND the son of the late Bickford and Eva (Disselbret) Hobbs. He graduated from the Walsh County Agricultural School in 1954. James served...

Jul 18, 2025

Richard A. Grove, age 79 of Adams, ND, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the South Central Health Hospital, Wishek, ND.

Richard Grove was born April 2, 1946 in Grafton, ND, the son of the late Palmer and Beatrice (Aune) Grove.  He grew up in Adams, graduating from Adams High School.  He then attended Concordia...

Jul 16, 2025

Caleb Matthew Powers, infant son of Matthew and Alexis (Nice) Powers, was born on July 16, 2025 at Sanford Hospital of Fargo, ND.

With hearts full of love and unimaginable sorrow, Matthew and Alexis held their son, Caleb, as he took his last breaths on July 16, 2025 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND.  Caleb lived for...