Orpha S. Foreng

Orpha S. Foreng, 93 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Friday evening, March 13, 2015 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake, ND. Funeral Services for Orpha will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church,Devils Lake with Reverend Russell Pollock officiating. Orpha will be laid to rest in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday, March 18th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday one hour prior to the funeral service. Orpha Selma, daughter of Thimor and Ida (Hoiberg) Brekken was born February 4, 1922. She was raised in the Pekin,North Dakota area and graduated from Pekin High School in 1940. Orpha was united in marriage to Clifford C. Foreng on July 7, 1944 at the Pekin Lutheran Church Parsonage. They established their home on the Foreng family farm, rural Pekin, where they farmed with Clifford’s dad for 19 years. To this union three daughters were born: . Cheryl Lynn, Cynthia Gail, and Melodee Ann. In September of 1966 they moved to Devils Lake. Orpha then worked as a cook at Prairie View Elementary School for over 30 years. She touched the lives of many children. In May of 2009, Orpha moved to the Odd Fellows Home where she resided at the time of her death. She made many new friends and was honored to be named the Valentine’s Day Queen in 2012. The family was active members of Sheyenne Lutheran Church, rural Pekin and Orpha served for several years as the President of the Sheyenne Lutheran Church Ladies Aide. At the time of her death, Orpha was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. She was also a former member of the VFW Auxiliary. Orpha was a loyal supporter of Clifford and his many bands. Through music she and Clifford made many lifetime friends. Orpha found solace sitting in her backyard taking in the beauty of nature. Her faith gave her peace and strength and she found great comfort in the Bible verse, John 3:16. Her family was her world and she prayed for each and every one of them to be blessed as she had been blessed. Her family will keep in their hearts her love, her kind and gentle spirit and the memories of the life they shared with her. Orpha is survived by her daughters Cheryl (Harry) Brenden, Rapid City, SD and Melodee (Terry) Thompson, Devils Lake and son-in-law Ken Lybeck also of Rapid City; grandchildren Rodney Lybeck (Shirley Vierling), Tanya (Jeff) Oldham, Eric (Laura) Brenden, Travis (Tammy) Brenden, Brandon Thompson and Carson (Heidi) Thompson; great grandchildren Eliana and Zachary Brenden, Isabella Brenden, Jace and Ashlinn Oldham, Max Thompson, Heather and Michael Harvey; great great grandchildren Carter and Brooklyn Koepp; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 58 years, Clifford; their daughter Cynthia Lybeck; sister Ruth Urvand and brother Truman Brekken. Casket Bearers for Orpha will be Rodney Lybeck, Tanya Lybeck, Eric Brenden, Travis Brenden, Brandon Thompson and Carson Thompson. Honorary Bearers will be Harold and Linda Petterson, Joe and Myonne Peters, Harry and Donna Hoiberg and all of Orpha’s nieces and nephews. Music will be provided by Irving Thompson and Heidi Thompson, vocalists and Lynda Pearson, pianist.