Anton Elliott Serumgard

Anton E. “Tony” Serumgard, 88 of Devils Lake, ND died peacefully on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Tony will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Devils Lake. The Officers of the Elks Lodge #1216 will conduct the service. Graveside Services will be held at the Devils Lake Cemetery with Pastor Kevin Kaufmann officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Visitation on Sunday will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Pallbearers will be: John Baker, Edward Volk, Gene Eckholm, Ken Larson, David “Gravy” McPhail and Harry Pflaum. Music will be provided by Peter A. Hager, Vocalist, Dean Hovern, Trumpet and John Martinson, Organist. Anton Elliott Serumgard was born on September 8, 1916, the youngest of six children born to John and Anna (Rudser) Serumgard at Devils Lake. Tony was the only one of the children not born on the family farm near Garske, ND. Tony moved into Devils Lake with the family at an early age and graduated from Devils Lake Central High School in 1934. Tony was involved in singing and played the clarinet in the school band. He studied a year at UND in Grand Forks before transferring to Wahpeton to attend the State School of Science where he majored in linotype operation and mechanics. While in Wahpeton he sang in a male quartet that entertained throughout the area. He was working in the Hazen-Killdeer area when World War II broke out and joined the United States Army on April 18, 1941, doing his basic training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Tony went overseas January of 1942 and served with the 329th Field Artillery Battalion of the Red Bull Division in Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines and the PO Valley. Tony was honorably discharged on September 2, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin with the rank of Technician Fourth Grade. He returned to Devils Lake and began working for the Devils Lake Journal and continued there until retiring in 1981. Tony was united in marriage to Evangeline “Vange” Wolfe on May 22, 1947 at Devils Lake. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their son. Vange died on March 5, 2002. Tony was a member of the Eagles AERIE, the American Legion, VFW and was a life member and Past Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge #1216, all of Devils Lake. Tony greatly enjoyed a good card game with family, friends or neighbors and always had a joke or story to tell. He is survived by his son, Eugene Serumgard & special friend, Cathy Wolfe, Devils Lake Granddaughter: Downey Larson and her husband, Ken, Devils Lake Grandson: Courtney Serumgard, Fargo, ND Great Grandson: Connor Larson also Devils Lake He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Evangeline; brother, John Serumgard; sisters, Mildred Baker, Anna Hofwalt, Edith Bray and Alice O’Neil. Memorials may be directed to the Devils Lake Elks Band. Friends may sign the on-line register book at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com