Marian H. Alvestad

Marian H. (Schwan) Alvestad, 88 and longtime Devils Lake business woman, passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Center in Devils Lake, North Dakota.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Marian will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Steven Wirth celebrating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake on Friday, January 25, 2019 from 4pm until 7pm with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7pm. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church for one hour prior to the funeral Mass.

Marian Schwan was born on September 11, 1930 to Steven and Lena (Schiele) Schwan in rural Devils Lake, ND. She was raised on a farm until 1936 when the family then moved into town.  Marion attended St. Mary’s Academy in Devils Lake, graduating with the class of 1949.  She then began working as a bookkeeper at Rexall Drug for the Engebretson Brothers. 

In 1947, Marian met a handsome young man, Robert E. Alvestad, at a dance in Crary, ND. They were united in marriage on April 12, 1951 at Camp Rucker, Alabama where Bob was stationed with the Army National Guard.  They moved to Devils Lake in 1953 and would call it home for the rest of their lives.  Marian continued working at Rexall Drug for a time and then at the Devils Lake Greenhouse. The love between Marian and Bob grew and blossomed into over 65 years as partners, in raising their family, in their work as owners and operators of the Devils Lake Greenhouse (1968-2002), and into their retirement.  Bob passed away on March 27, 2016. 

Marian was an active member of the church and community. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Altar Society.  She served on St. Mary’s School Board for several years and also as Secretary for the Board of Directors of the Town and Country Club.  Marian greatly enjoyed playing in the Woman’s Golf League and Ladies League Bowling as well as the many activities and events she participated in as a member of the VFW Auxiliary and Elks Lodge. She had so many wonderful times with the girls of the Birthday Club.  In retirement, she dealt Black Jack for the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department and later for Lake Region Corporation until 2014. 

Marian worked hard all of her life to bring smiles, happiness and joy to countless lives through her beautiful flower arrangements, plants and her young nursery stock. She cared for her children, grandchildren, family and dear friends with the same love and gentle heart.  She faced the trials of life the best she could and lived life to the fullest.  She was a “Bingo” queen, enjoying the game for many years, and delighted in her time at the Casino doing a bit of gambling.  But meeting old friends, and making new ones along the way, was always the highlight of the day.  Family was everything to Marian.  She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally and treasured each and every moment with them.

Marian is survived by her children, Cyndy (Richard) Kinney of Grand Forks, ND, Belinda Vetsch of Devils Lake, Curt (Bette) Alvestad of Craig, CO, Gale (Mark) Allard and Jim (Sue) Alvestad all of Devils Lake; grandchildren Jessica Nelson, Ryan Langerurd, Joey Vetsch, Sheila Schmaltz, Kim Alvestad, Jacob Alvestad, Amber Kub, Steven Allard, David Allard and Tony Alvestad; fourteen great-grandchildren with another to be born in June; brother Dennis Schwan of Devils Lake, and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bob; son-in-law Don Langerud; grandson Bobby Vetsch; great grandson Jamisson Schmaltz; three sisters and one brother.

In less than 24 hours of Marian’s death, the family would also mourn the tragic death of Marian’s granddaughter Jessica, and her husband Troy Nelson, on January 21, 2019.