Finna Shafer

Finna Shafer, 100 of Devils Lake formerly of the Bantry/Towner, ND joined her Heavenly Father, December 19, 2006. Finna passed away at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake. A Celebration of Finna’s life will be held on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Harold Ovre officiating. A Graveside Service for Finna will be held at the Bantry Union Cemetery on Tuesday, December 26th at 2:00 p.m. with lunch to follow at The Ranch House Café in Towner, ND. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 25, 2006 from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Finna will be her grandsons, Terry Shafer, Dale Shafer, Wade Shafer and B.J. Rohr and her granddaughters’ husbands, Gerald Dosch and Bob Maixner. The family wishes to thank the staff of Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Devils Lake for the loving care they provided Finna in her final years and designates them as Honorary Pallbearers for Finna. Finna Johnson was born August 10, 1906 near Upham, ND in Meadow Township, McHenry County, the second child of Barney and Halldora (Johannsdittir) Johnson, who emigrated from Iceland in 1903. In 1910, the family moved to a farm north of Bantry where she and her brother, Sigmar grew up and attended Elm Grove School through the elementary grades. In 1925, Finna graduated from Upham High School and then attended Minot Teachers College that summer. On November 3, 1925 she was united in marriage to William “Bill” Shafer at Towner, ND. They farmed in the Bantry/Towner area until 1946 when they bought a farm near Devils Lake where they farmed and operated a dairy. In 1982 they moved into Devils Lake. Bill died on May 26, 1990. Finna continued to make her home in Devils Lake where she lived in the Odd Fellows Apartments and in 2000 moved to the Odd Fellows Home. In 2004 she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center. Finna was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and the WELCA and also of the area Homemakers Group. In February of 2004, Finna was crowned Valentine Queen and in August of 2005 was the Angel of the Year both honors were received at the Good Samaritan Center. Finna loved to learn. Throughout much of her long life, she was blessed with a clear mind and good vision which enabled her to continue her passion for reading and writing well into her nineties. Family and friends enjoyed receiving her humorous letters which typically began with an update on the weather and crops, followed by quips and informative comments or personal commentary on the people, places and events she had read or heard about. Sewing, knitting, raising chickens and gardening were also passions. She loved her family and always kept the cookie jar full and within reach when her Grandchildren visited. She had a quick whit and wonderful sense of humor which she shared with everyone to the end. God blessed the earth with her presence for over 100 years and now calls her home to an eternal life of unending peace and joy with Him. Finna is survived by two sons, Richard Shafer and his wife, Helen of Billings, Montana Gordon Shafer and his wife, Lillian of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota Daughter: Carol Rohr and her husband, Art of Crary, ND Eleven Grandchildren Twenty Great Grandchildren Three Great Great Grandchildren She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; daughter, Jean and an infant son and brother, Sigmar.