LaVern J. McKay

LaVern J. “L.J.” McKay, 65 of Sheyenne, ND died on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, ND Funeral Services for LaVern will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Dakotah Oyate Lutheran Church, rural Tokio with burial in the Bdecan Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Tokio, ND Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Pallbearers will be Monty Stensland, Bob Stensland, Faron Stensland, Neil McKay, Nolan McKay and Shane Gardell. Music will be cared for by LaVern’s family with Inez Green as pianist. LaVern J. McKay was born on May 9, 1940 at Fort Totten, ND to Pat McKay and Florence Ironheart McKay Thumb. He attended the Fort Totten boarding school and as a teenager he worked as a farm hand on many area farms. L.J. married Dorothea Ruth Schmotter on December 8, 1976. He worked on the railroad for a short time before moving to San Bernardino, California where he worked at a manufacturing plant for 2 years. He then moved to Wolf Point, Montana, worked again for the railroad. He later moved to Great Falls, Montana and was employed as a dietician at the Deaconess Hospital. L.J. returned to North Dakota and worked on the Leo Walker Farm at Maddock, ND for 8 years. For the past 20 years, L.J. has worked between Minneapolis and Oberon, trucking with his brother, Willie, working as a furniture mover or on construction with his brother-in-law, Paul Stensland. L.J. was very musical and loved to play guitar and sing rousing renditions of Folsom Prison Blues, entertaining his family with music and stories that were always on the lighter side of life. He also was an avid reader of Louie Lamour books. He especially loved spending time with family; especially his nieces and nephews, always letting them know how special they were to him. He will be deeply missed by all of his family and friends. L.J. is survived by his Daughter: Melissa Sue Kane and her husband, Curtis of Minneapolis, MN Granddaughters: Samantha Rose Kane and Alyssa Marie Kane Brothers and Sisters: Inez (Jerry) Green, Oberon, ND Joyce Affeldt, Sheyenne, ND Willie (Delimma) McKay, Minneapolis Loretta (Paul) Stensland, Oberon Darrell (Grace) Thumb, Great Falls, Montana Roger Thumb, Warwick, ND Gary (Lynette) Thumb also of Warwick Idell (David) Peterson, Devils Lake Edward (Nan) Thumb, Elvis Thumb Yvonne Thumb all of Oberon Ordell Guy, Tokio Many Nieces and Nephews also survive He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jeremy John McKay on October 10, 1974; brother, Merle Thumb.