Malior Gette

Malior “Mal” Gette, 94, of Devils Lake formerly of Starkweather, ND died on Monday, April 28, 2008 at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Mass of Christian Burial for Mal will be on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Assumption of Mary Catholic Church, Starkweather. Fr. Tony Hession will celebrate the Mass and burial will be at the Assumption of Mary Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:30 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Casket Bearers for Mal will be his grandsons Chad Hofstad and Andrew Haaven, and sons-in-law Curt Hofstad, Larry Haaven, Mike Ryan and David Polovitz. Music will be provided by John Frelich and grandson Dylan Bosserman-Sweitzer, soloists, and Audrey Myklebust, organist. Reading the Scriptures will be his son Robert Gette and daughter Janel Ryan. Gift Bearers will be grandchildren Cody and Megan Gette. Malior Gette was born on August 8, 1913, the son of Ignatius and Elizabeth (Bosz) Gette in a German-Russian settlement in Russia. He came to the United States with his parents at the age of three months. His parents settled in the Starkweather area, then moved to the Munich/Alsen area where Mal grew up and attended school. He graduated from Alsen High School in 1932. He worked for the railroad for a time and also for several farmers in the Starkweather area. Mal then moved to Crary, ND where he started farming on his own. Mal was united in marriage to Marie Ziegler on September 17, 1940 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, rural Crary. They established their home on a farm in the Hampden/Starkweather area where they lived, worked and raised their family. In 1979, they retired and moved into Starkweather. Mal spent his retirement years surrounded by family, listening to old time music, recording many video tapes and playing his favorite card game of Smear. Mal’s life was grounded in agriculture and centered in family. Even after retirement, Mal remained active in farming by helping his son Mel, and was extraordinarily proud in watching the farm grow and prosper under the leadership of his son. Mal was also extremely proud of his family of 15 sons and daughters whom he watched grow and mature throughout his long life. All Mal’s children are the benefactors of his intellect, work ethic, kind and caring heart and love for family and life. With his large family came thirty-eight grandchildren who Mal loved, adored and thoroughly enjoyed. Though scattered throughout the country, each and every one of them held a special place in his heart. Mal followed the careers and accomplishments of all his children and grandchildren and would talk for hours about their latest promotion or adventure. Mal was an active member of Assumption of Mary Catholic Church and served as a trustee for many years in Starkweather. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and was the Starkweather City Assessor for many years. After moving to Devils Lake in 2002, they were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. In October of 2003, Mal moved to the Heartland Care Center. Mal is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 67 years, Marie of Devils Lake, Children: Robert and Mary Gette of Wahpeton, ND; Janel and Mike Ryan of Farmington, New Mexico; Larry and Diane Gette of Fergus Falls, MN; Annette and Curt Hofstad of Devils Lake; Timothy and Laurel Gette of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Allen and Lori Gette of Rogers, Arkansas; Claudia and Larry Haaven of Hannah, ND; Tony Gette of Solvang, California; Randy and Sandy Gette of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Mel and Gayle Gette of Devils Lake; Lauri and Tom Sweitzer of Middleburg, Virginia; Berni and David Polovitz of Medina, MN; and Jerry Gette of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; daughter-in-law: Alice Gette of Castle Rock, Colorado; thirty-eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren; brothers: Leo and Ruby Gette, Devils Lake; Donald and Agnes Gette, Minneapolis, MN; and Bill and Sonja Gette of Langdon, sister: Bette Berg of Bismarck, ND and many nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Daniel Gette and Rodney Gette; brothers, Joe and Henry Gette; sisters, Marie Wilhelmi, Alvina Wilhelmi and Leona Gette.