ARTHUR C. "ART" SKRAMSTAD

Arthur C. Skramstad, 91 a lifelong resident and farmer of the Devils Lake area, passed away early Wednesday morning, April 17, 2013 at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND. Funeral Services for Art will be held on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Jeff Nicla will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Arthur’s grandchildren, Darcy VanderMeersch, Vickie Cofer, Shane Garske, Nathan Garske, Beth Kraushaar, Savannah Kraft, Sierra Kraft, Sadie Kraft, Cari Garske, Lane Liudahl, Kirsten Morris and Janelle Kisow will serve as Casket Bearers. Reading the Scriptures will be great granddaughter, Alexa Cofer and grandson, Shane Garske. Music will be provided by Tom Wade, soloist and Lynda Pearson, organist. Arthur Clarence, son of Martin O. and Anna (Gustafson) Skramstad was born on January 31, 1922 at the General Hospital in Devils Lake. He would make the Lake Region his home for his entire 91 years. Art attended DeGroat Township School and graduated from Devils Lake Central High School in 1939. After high school he rented some farmland and began his over 50 year career as a farmer and rancher, raising cattle and sheep. Art was united in marriage to Norma Armentrout on February 10, 1943 at Starkweather, ND. They established their home on a farm 8 ½ miles West of Devils Lake and would live, work side by side and raise their 5 children there for the next 70 years. Art was a baptized and confirmed member of Chain Lakes Lutheran Church, rural Churchs Ferry and for most of his adult life a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. He also enjoyed membership in the Devils Lake Elks Lodge and Eagles Lodge. Art served as a board member and was named Farmer of the Year, with the local Soil Conservation District. He was an avid reader and never said no to a game of cards or other games with family and friends. Art was a very talented musician playing the clarinet and saxophone in the “Dixieland Band” and several other area dance bands. He was also a member of the Devils Lake Elks Band for over 47 years. Art was a man of commitment. He was a man of faith from his baptism until his death; he was a devoted and loving husband for over 70 years and was a dedicated father,grandfather and great grandfather, providing a loving home, a roof overhead, the necessities and also the unncessities that made life fun for his family and providing the joy of music and dance for most of his life. We will miss him so very much, but we are thankful for the many years of his wisdom, love and laughter we were blessed to share. Art is survived by his wife, Norma; children, Waneen (Patrick) Stout of Macomb, Illinois, Sheila (Rich) Windjue of Devils Lake, Denise (Perry) Garske also of Devils Lake, Blair Skramstad of Des Moines, Iowa and Lesa Kraft of West Fargo, ND; twelve grandchildren, Darcy (Tim) Vander Meersch, Knoxville, TN, Lane (Laura) Liudahl, Holmen, WI, Kirsten (Tim) Morris, Chicago, IL; Vickie (Josh) Cofer, Dickinson, ND, Janelle (Scott) Kisow, Orange, CA; Shane Garske, Nathan (Kim) Garske all of Fargo, Cari Garske, Springfield, MO; Bethany (T.J.) Kraushaar, Fargo; Savannah Kraft, Springfield, MO, Sierra Kraft, New York City and Sadie Kraft, Rochester, MN; fourteen great grandchildren; Art’s nephews, Wayne Skramstad and Darrell (Mary) Skramstad and niece, Ione Skramstad; sister-in-law, Dolores Common of Grand Forks; Art was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Shawn Liudahl and brother, Melvin Skramstad.