Dorothy L. (Melland) Harpestad

Dorothy L. (Melland) Harpestad, 90 of Hampden, ND died Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at the First Care Health Center, Park River, ND.  Dorothy Lorraine, was born January 15, 1927 to Gustav and Lena (Peterson) Melland in Cavalier County. She attended school in Billings Township, the first 8 grades.  She then attended Loma High School for 3 years and graduated from Langdon High School in 1945.  She received her teaching certificate from Valley City College and taught school in Moscow and Billings Townships.  Dorothy married Robert Harpestad on December 17, 1947. They established their home on the Louis Storlie farm and lived there until moving to Hampden in 1973.  Dorothy worked at several jobs including School Cook, Bus Driver and Janitor at the Hampden School. She worked at the Hampden Café, Grocery Store and Vern’s Hardware.  Dorothy was famous for her potato salad and potato dumplings as well as her crocheting. Her greatest joy was spending time with friends and family, whether it was having coffee at the Hampden Café or going on a 3 day road trip. Her love of life and sense of humor touched everyone around her. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church at Loma and later Faith Lutheran Church of Hampden. Dorothy is survived by her children: Robert Harpestad Jr. (Sandy Miller), Edmore, ND, Linda and her husband Bruce Simon, Starkweather, ND, Sheila and her husband Mark Robertsdahl, Walcott, ND, Rick Harpestad and his wife Naomi, Mayville, ND and Tamara and her husband Rick Clemetson, Park River, ND; grandchildren Wade, Lisa, Craig and Andrea; Stephanie and Steven; April and Kyle; Brandon, Timothy and Drew; Courtney; great grandchildren Jadyn, Payton, James, Desiree, Kylie, Kinsley, Chloe, Kenna, Brogan, Karsen, Parker, Ava, Riley and Jocelyn.; many nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law Loretta (Orris) Melland-Gjesdal, Langdon, ND, Gladys Martinson, Devils Lake, Mavis (Roger) Nelson, Park River; Marion (Dennis) Hoffart, Grand Forks, ND and Esther Dahl, Seattle, WA.  She was preceded in death by her husband Robert on April 9, 2008; her parents and brothers Melvin and Irvin. Funeral Services for Dorothy will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church, Starkweather, ND with Reverend Robert Buechler officiating. Burial will be in the Loma Cemetery, rural Loma, ND.  Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, June 30th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will continue at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the funeral service. Dorothy’s grandchildren will serve as her Casket Bearers.