Curtis L Hofstad

State Representative and lifelong Starkweather area farmer, Curtis L. “Curt” Hofstad passed away on Saturday morning, June 18, 2016 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. He was 70 years of age. Funeral Services for Curt will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at Lake Region State College, Robert Fawcett Auditorium, Devils Lake with Reverend Tom Westcott officiating. Curt will be laid to rest in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday, June 21st from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 7:30 p.m. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the college one hour prior to the funeral service. Curtis was born on February 1, 1946 in Devils Lake, ND the son of Clarence and Helen (Lee) Hofstad. He was raised and lived most of his life in Starkweather. He was educated at Starkweather Public School, graduating with the class of 1964. He continued his education at NDSU, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics. Curtis married his high school sweetheart, Annette Gette on August 3, 1968 on the Hofstad homestead and they were blessed with 48 years of love, laughter and some tears and 3 beautiful children. The family made their home as the 3rd generation of the Hofstad farmers and Curt had proudly brought into the operation the 4th generation, Chad and his family. Curt’s life was very diverse. His passion was farming, but to pilot his own plane that he had taken 5 years to build was such an exhilarating experience. He was always an avid supporter of his community. He began his service with the Starkweather School Board, served on the Devils Lake Airport Board and was still serving on the Ramsey County Water Board and State Water Commission. In 2007, that desire to serve took on a whole new meaning and he was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives for District 15. He was the Vice Chairman of the House Human Services Committee and a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He was very helpful in developing the Devils Lake outlets, getting much needed resolve to flood issues and also an advocate of Lake Region State College. Curt enjoyed spending time at Wood Lake with his family and many friends and was arguably the best 70 year old water skier on the lake. Papa Curt made every effort to be at the activities of his grandchildren. He was a loving husband, an extraordinary Father and Grandfather, imparting his wisdom and knowledge onto his children and grandchildren. He felt so blessed to have such an understanding family when farming or politics had to be attended to. He gave both his all as a true steward to the land and servant to the people of the Lake Region and North Dakota. Curt is survived by the love of his life, Annette; children and grandchildren Shannon and her husband Jerry Bupp and their children Sam and Adela, Las Vegas, NV, Chad and his wife Allison and their children Hayden, Drew, Emma and Isla of Starkweather and Nicole Cross of New York City; sister Bobby Hofstad of Minneapolis, MN and her children, Curt’s nieces Karla (Scott) Edwards and Christina (Craig) Serley and family; aunts Irene Schechner and Anna Marie Hofstad; many Gette brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Casket Bearers for Curt will be Greg Westlind, Doug Lee, Dennis Johnson, Blaine Wass, Mel Gette, Jerry Gette, Don Bertsch, and Larry Haaven. He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws Malior and Marie Gette.