Frank Lowell Whitehead

Frank L. Whitehead, 84 of Devils Lake died on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at MeritCare Palliative Care in Fargo, ND. Funeral Services for Frank will be held on Monday, July 12, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Rafe Allison will officiate and burial with Masonic Rites will be held at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Cemetery, rural Starkweather, ND. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 7:30 p.m. Serving as Casket Bearers for Frank will be his grandsons, Adam, Mattias, Christopher, Joshua, Ryan, C.J. and Billy. Honorary Bearers will be: Burdell Willers, Leroy Bogan, Duane Wagner, Keith Soiseth, Bill Byram, Delbert Neuhart and Duane Jelkin. Music will be provided by Billy Schnase, Coby Barstad, Rafe Allison and Brenda Swenseth. Frank Lowell Whitehead, son of William R. and Lola (Yerington) Whitehead was born on May 20, 1926 at Rapid City, South Dakota where he was reared and educated, graduating from Rapid City High School in 1944. After graduating, Frank entered the United States Army on April 10, 1945 at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota serving his country during World War II. He served as a Medic with the Medical Detachment 1629 in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and Japan. Frank was Honorably Discharged on December 3, 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Frank returned to South Dakota and graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. Frank then began a lifelong career as an Engineer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs working at the Cheyenne Agency in South Dakota. He went on to Winnebago, Nebraska, and New Town, North Dakota. He worked at the BIA area office in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and retired in 1980 while located at the Seminole Agency in Hollywood, Florida, where he was the Land Operations Officer. Frank was united in marriage to Joyce Knudson on November 16, 1957 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. They made their home in the various states where Frank was employed. During these years they were blessed with four children. After retirement they moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The peaceful surroundings and the beauty of nature abounded in the Black Hills and provided many activities for this avid outdoorsman. Frank also worked for a short time with MPI in Rapid City. In 1985, Frank and Joyce moved to North Dakota and made this there home through the years. They established a hobby farm on Six Mile Bay on the shores of Devils Lake. This had been a long-time dream of Frank's. The family enjoyed many years of camping together, fishing and enjoying the produce of Frank’s garden. Frank was always very active in the different churches where he was a member and was now a member of Peace Lutheran Church. He also was a member of the American Legion, NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees) and the Masons. Of course, with each move, Frank also joined a new bowling league, enjoying fun and fellowship. Frank’s pride and joy was his family and he never waived in his duties to provide for his family, his faith and his service to his country and fellow man. Frank is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joyce; his children, Ann and her husband, Dana Houck of Faribault, Minnesota; Maria and her husband, Layne Koch of Edmore, ND; William Whitehead and his wife, Kim of Mayer, Minnesota, and Laurel and her husband, Clem Schnase of Fargo, ND; twelve grandchildren, Adam Houck, Mattias (Becky) Houck, Christopher Houck, Jenna Houck; Joshua (Beverly) Koch, Kristina (Michael) Atkinson; Ryan Whitehead, Megan Whitehead, Natalie Whitehead; C.J. (Patricia) Schnase, Billy Schnase and Amanda Schnase; sister, Martha Nelson of Grants Pass, Oregon; brothers, George Whitehead and Clark Whitehead of Brookings, South Dakota; brother-in-law, Gene Dimick of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, and brother-in-law, John (Penny) Knudson of Devils Lake, ND. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill Whitehead; sister, Marion Dimick and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bjarne and Anne Knudson.