Lavern E. Blake

Lavern E. Blake, 78 long time Starkweather, ND area farmer died on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks with loving family at his bedside. Funeral Services on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church, Starkweather, ND. Burial will be in the Trinity-Bergen Cemetery, rural Starkweather. Visitation at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday, June 22nd from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Time of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Lavern was born at Cando, ND on July 18, 1937 to Ernest and Martha (Schumacher) Blake. In the fall of 1941 the family moved from Egeland, ND to rural Starkweather, ND to what was known as the Jim Bragg farm. He attended country school in Royal Township his first six years and then attended Starkweather Public School, graduating with the class of 1955. He continued his education at Minot State College for a time, then started farming with his father. Lavern has resided on the family farm until the present time. Lavern was united in marriage to Stella Aardahl on July 10, 1960 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. They established their home on the family farm, living, working and raising their family through the years. Lavern proudly served with the North Dakota Army National Guard, Camp Grafton for 6 years. Lavern enjoyed fishing and hunting. Anytime he could take the grandchildren with him was a very special time. He also attended sports activities, school programs and dance performances for all of his grandchildren, being their biggest fan and supporter. Lavern loved to play a game of cards with family and friends and those times together always included some great stories, a few jokes and lively conversation. Lavern was a member of Trinity Bergen AFLC and held several offices over the years. He served for 40 years as a Township Supervisor and also served on the Starkweather Rural Fire Board for many years. Lavern was also that ever faithful, devoted Starkweather School Bus Driver for 31 years. He is survived by his wife Stella of 55 years; children and their spouses Kevin and Ursula Blake, Cando, ND, Laurie and Brent Kappes, Borup, MN, Lana and Victor Abrigo, Cottonwood, AZ and Karl and Kimberly Blake, Park River, ND; grandchildren Travis, Renee, Baylee and Hunter Blake; Bradley Kappes and Janelle (Sean) Mackey; Carlos, Kyle (Faith), Zachary and Victoria Abrigo; Kelsey (Jonathan) Mollet, Kaitlyn and Karson Blake; great grandchildren Layla, Kyle Ian and Alyssandra; brother Rudy (Jan) Blake, Spokane, WA; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Lyle and Jean Aardahl, Sacramento, CA, Janet Aardahl, Minot, ND and Eileen and William Pyron, Hansen, ID; many nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norman and Ruby Aardahl and brother-in-law Marvin Aardahl.