Alma E. Kjelden

Alma E. Kjelden, 87, of Devils Lake died on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 at the Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Alma will be held on Monday, February 14, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Harold Ovre will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday, February 13, 2005 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with the family present from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Pallbearers will be: Debbie Stromme, Kent Onerheim, Vicki Nelson, Cindy Philips, Gilbert Kjelden and Dawn Bachmeier. Music will be cared for by: Kensi Kjelden, Soloist and Lynda Pearson, Organist Alma E. Nokleby was born on March 12, 1917 at New Rockford, ND the daughter of Ole and Mary (Dablow) Nokleby. She was raised and educated in New Rockford. Alma was united in marriage to Orville Lee Guffey in 1935. They lived in several places after their marriage including Bantry, Brinsmade, and Devils Lake, ND where they worked and raised their family. Alma worked at Manns Department Store for many years. Orville died on October 22, 1974. Alma continued to make her home in Devils Lake. On October 18, 1980, Alma married Ervin G. Kjelden at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. They established their home on their rural Devils Lake farm and lived there the rest of their lives together. Ervin died on December 10, 2004. Alma was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and also the VFW Auxiliary. She was a former member of the Eagles Auxiliary. Alma enjoyed music and she and Ervin loved to dance. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing cards with family and friends. Alma and Ervin loved to travel and traveled to many places in the United States. They spent their winters in Mesa, Arizona for a number of years. Alma’s greatest love was spending time with her family and attending all the family get-togethers. Alma had many talents and was a devoted wife and mother and passed these traits down to her children and grandchildren. Her love and laughter will be greatly missed. Alma is survived by her children: Daughters and Sons-In-Law: Janice and Don Onerheim Shirley and Sheldon Vincent, both of Devils Lake Sharon and Richard Halvorson, Great Falls, Montana Sylvia and Aaron Allen, Fergus Falls, Minnesota Sons and Daughters-In-Law: Gordon and Mary Guffey, Great Falls Terry and Isabelle Guffey, Yuma, Arizona Step Children: Patricia (John) Anderson, Tolna, ND Linda (Leonard) Peters, Devils Lake Douglas (Sandy) Kjelden, Burnsville, Minnesota Garry (Eunice) Kjelden, West Fargo, ND Alfred (Deborah) Kjelden, Forman, ND Bruce (Diane) Kjelden, West Fargo, Sandra Stiley, LaSalle, Colorado Coralie (James, Jr.) Nelson, Beulah, ND Bonnie (Larry) Klein, Green River, Wyoming Gilbert (Paulette) Kjelden, Devils Lake, ND Seventeen Grandchildren and Twenty-Seven Great Grandchildren Thirty Step Grandchildren and Forty-Six Step Great Grandchildren Alma was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Orville L. Guffey and Ervin G. Kjelden; son, Jerry Guffey and all of her 11 brothers and sisters.