LARRY E WERNER

Larry E. Werner, 79, of Hampden ND died Thursday January 15, 2015 at his rural Hampden home surrounded by family. Larry Edwin, the son of Edwin and Mary (Christenson) Werner was born December 1, 1935 in rural Hampden ND. He was raised on the farm and graduated from Hampden High School in 1953. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Ft. McClelland, Alabama. He returned from the service and was able to purchase the farm his great grand-parents (Thomas Strong) had homesteaded. His ancestors were of great interest to him. On August 31, 1958 he married Ione E. Ivesdal in Edmore ND. They made their home on this farm for the past 56 years where they raised their three children. He retired in 2000 and was so happy that both his sons would continue on with the farming. He had a real passion for history and ancestry and spent many hours researching and assembling various artifacts and coin collections. His hobbies and interests were fixing things, tinkering with old “stuff”, fishing and hunting with his friends, trapping, bowling, and softball in his younger years. He always enjoyed Hampden’s celebrations and parades and liked to spend Independence Day in Medora. He especially enjoyed coffee with his friends in Hampden. Larry served on various boards and committees in Hampden including Hampden Farmers Elevator Board, Hampden Oil Company Board, Hampden Commercial Club, and was United Methodist Church treasurer. He was also the Royal Township assessor for years and liked visiting the rural farms. He was a member of Hay-Overbo American Legion Post #226. Larry is survived by his wife, Ione; daughter, Merrie Kaye Kakela, Langdon; sons Lee (Carla)Werner, Hampden and Ed(Christy)Werner, Starkweather; 8 grandchildren: Jesse Hermanson, Starkweather, Sara (Nathan) Erickstad, Devils Lake, Jordan Hermanson (Heather Christianson, Fiancee) of Fargo, Kori (Ryan) Howatt of Langdon, Carly Werner, Hampden, William and Christian Werner of Starkweather; 3 great-grandchildren Felicity, Aubrey and Gage Erickstad; sister Julie (Butch) Hamre; step mother Doris Werner; 8 nieces, Susan, Sandra, Jodi, Lori, Shelly, Traci, Michelle and Kerri and 6 nephews, Kelly, Victor, Scott, Randy, Stuart and David; sisters-in-law Mary Werner and Pauline Ivesdal; brother-in-law- Sigurd “Tom”Ivesdal and several cousins He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dennis Werner, step mother Eleanor Werner, sister-in-law Carolyn Thorson, brother-in-law Sheldon Ivesdal and grandparents Elmer and Nellie (Strong) Werner and John and Matilda (Newman) Christenson and father-in-law and mother-in-law Sigurd and Olive Ivesdal. Funeral Services for Larry will be held Monday January 19, 2015 at 10:30 am at Zoar Free Lutheran Church in Hampden with burial in the Storlie Cemetery, rural Hampden. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Hay-Overbo American Legion Post #226 and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held Sunday from 5-7 with a 7 pm prayer service at Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake ND.