June Braaten

June Braaten, 82 passed away on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at her farm, rural Crary, ND in the loving care of her daughter and Mercy Hospice of Devils Lake. At June’s request, cremation will take place. June requested that no funeral service be held. She wished to be remembered not with public tears, but by private memories of her, filled with smiles. June Frances Gilbraith was born June 8, 1928, to John H. and Blanche (Link) Gilbraith in Devils Lake. She was raised on several farms and in Crary, all in Ramsey County. She graduated from Crary High School. On June 30, 1947, she married the love of her life, Jimmy Braaten in Devils Lake. They lived on the Braaten family farm her entire married life, and until her death. Jimmy passed away in 1998. June was a vital link in the operation of the farm, tending livestock while the men worked in the fields, tending the huge garden and providing wonderful meals for all the people who came through the farm yard over the years. She loved to feed wild birds, raise chickens, ducks, and geese and tend her gorgeous flowers. She was a greatly talented quilter and was featured in an issue of Country Woman magazine. She crocheted edgings on over 200 hand-made pillowcases, and gave them to family and friends. She also embroidered and made wonderful crafts, which featured her wonderful sense of humor. June travelled with Jimmy throughout the United States in later years and in the years after his death, June travelled with her daughter on annual antique store/quilt shops/casino trips in the Midwest. June was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in October 2009. She travelled the entire way through her final journey with dignity, grace and a quiet strength. She asked so little of anyone, and gave so much to so many. So thankful to have had her in their lives, she leaves to mourn her daughter Mary Braaten of Doyon; nine brothers and sisters Marjorie Koch of Windom, MN, David (Joan) Gilbraith and Max (Mary Jane) Gilbraith all of Fargo, Laurin (Carol) Gilbraith of Grand Forks, Lavina (H. Blair) Burner of Bellevue, WA, Glenn (Shirley) Gilbraith of Grand Forks, Leon Gilbraith and Sylvia Gilbraith both of Crary and Carolyn Held of Minot, ND; aunts Vivienne Link of Bismarck and Joyce Snook of Montezuma, Iowa; uncle Reade (Marquerite) Gilbraith of Minot, ND; many nieces and nephews; other “daughter” Jeanne Aaker of Lakota and “her boys” Eric and Joel Schroeder also of Lakota; June was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, Jimmy; brothers-in-law Rudolph Braaten, Hans Braaten, John Koch and Kenneth Held and sister-in-law Carolyn Gilbraith. God bless the memory of June Braaten.