DENNIS M. SCHARF

Dennis M. Scharf, 84 of Moorhead, MN formerly of Devils Lake and rural Crary, ND passed away on Monday morning, December 5, 2011 at Elim Care Center in Fargo in the loving care of his family and Hospice. Mass of Christian Burial for Dennis will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake on Friday, December 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Jason Asselin celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Serving as Casket Bearers for Dennis will be Dennis’ nephews James Callum, Wayne Carlson and Byron Carlson and friends, Ronald Stubbe, Irving Thompson and Roger Burt. Reading the Scriptures will be Jerry Carlson and Gift Bearers will be Dennis’ sisters Dorothy, Lois and Eunice. Music will be provided by Ellen Zimprich and JoDee Lagein. Dennis was born at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake on October 19, 1927 to Martin and Marie (Wolfe) Scharf, forth oldest of seven children. He attended eight years of country school in Minnewaukan Township, Ramsey County and graduated from Crary High School with the class of 1946. Dennis served his country during World War II with the United States Army and was stationed in Japan. He was honorably discharged at Fort Lewis, Washington in 1947. After his discharge, he returned to North Dakota. He graduated from the North Dakota State School of Science in 1951 with a specialty in Electrical Trades. He farmed with his Dad until 1955, then took over the farm, retiring from farming in 1989. The farm was a Centennial farm and had been in the family since it was homesteaded in 1889. While farming, Dennis also worked part time for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service for twelve years and Security Electric for eight years. Dennis was united in marriage to Judy E. Garske, daughter of Ben and Edith Garske, on May 19, 1962 in Devils Lake. Judy died on December 24, 1995. Dennis and Judy built a home in Devils Lake in 1963 where they lived their married life. They loved to ball room dance, square dance and took their son, Joel skiing at Big Sky, Montana for sixteen years. Dennis also loved to golf at the Devils Lake Town and Country Club in his retirement years. Dennis was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and VFW Post #756, Devils Lake and was also a member of the Devils Lake Eagles Lodge, Elks Lodge and Toastmasters. He served on the Board of Directors of the Rohrville Farmers Union Elevator, Devils Lake Farmers Union Elevator (now Lake Region Grain Co.) and Lake Region Credit Union. (now Citizens Community Credit Union) Dennis married Irene Meyer in May of 2000. Dennis moved to Moorhead in September of 2003 to be closer to Joel, Sarah and grandson Andy. Dennis is survived by his son Joel Scharf and wife Sarah and grandson Andy all of Moorhead MN; Dorothy Pung of Devils Lake, Lois (Leonard) Hart of Eugene, Oregon and Eunice (Jerry) Balzer of Bismarck, ND. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Judy and sisters Gen Carlson, Eleanor Callum and Janice Rhinechect.