Obituaries and Death Notices of Burke County North Dakota (2024)

Alfred Andeson
DEATH OF ALFRED ANDERSON
Alfred Anderson, one of our bestknown and most highly-respected citizens, passed to the great beyond on Sunday morning last at an early hour after a sickness of two weeks, his untimely death depriving a noble wife and interesting family of four small children of a true, loving and indulgent husband and father, and casting a gloom over the entire community, where he was so well known and beloved, that will not readily be dispelled.

Deceased was born in Freeborn Co., Minn., in September, 1864, where he lived continuously until coming to Bowbells, with exception of one year he spent at Burlington, Io., attending college. After returning from college he engaged in the mercantile business at Glenville, Minn., in which he continued until coming to Bowbells in the spring of 1900. He married Maggie Cottrell on April 5, 1891, who now, with their four children, the oldest of whom is but 13 years of age and the youngest little over two years, are left to mourn his loss. Mr. Anderson was an honored member of the local lodges I.O.O.F., K. of P., Woodmen and Rebekahs be at the time of his death Noble Grand of Butte Lodge No. 72, I. O. O. F. The funeral took place from his late residence on Sunday afternoon. The bereaved family have the sincere and heartfelt sympathy of all. [Source: The Bowbells Tribune; Bowbells, ND, May 19, 1905]; transcribed by Angie Lietzau

Karl Aurrath
Karl Aurrath, formerly a resident of Bowbells, died at Charles City, Ia., where he had gone some time ago to be among friends during the last days of his life. Aurrarth met with an accident while driving into a livery barn at Bowbells five years ago, with a load of hay, from which he never recovered. It will be remembered that he was treated for a long time at the Northwestern hospital at Minte. [The Ward County Independent. (Minot, Ward County, N.D.), 02 June 1910]

Audrey Blum
Funeral services for Audrey Blum were held on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, at 1:30 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Appleton. Pastor Benjamin Pollock and Pastor Joel Kotila officiated at the services. Mary Schirm was the organist and accompanied the congregation in the singing of the hymns. Special music was sung by Richard Ehrenberg and Sherwood Dove. Honoary Pallbearers were Vernon and Irene Henkelman, Donald and Kathy Henkelman, Carold DeBuhr, William Koeckeritz, Sandy Moe, Sue Streed and Willie Wilts. Pallbearers were Curt Christopherson, Kent Christopherson, Sherwood Dove, Richard Ehrenberg, Tom Moe, and Stanley Wilts. Interment was at the Appleton City Cemetery. Audrey Lue Blum was born on August 26, 1936, at Wadena to parents Charles and Ruth (Demmom) Christopherson. She graduated from Staples High School and then received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from the University of Minnesota-St. Paul. Audrey began working as the home economics extension agent for Big Stone County in 1959 and worked as extension agent until 1965. She was baptized and confirmed on January 29, 1960 at Odessa. On June 18, 1960 she was married to Dale Blum at Thomastown Covenant Church at Staples After their marriage Audrey was an active farmwife until the time of her death. From 1995 until the spring of 2003 she worked at various part-time jobs. Most recently she had worked at Moe's Hardware Hank. Audrey was an avid gardener, raising both flowers and produce, and was an excellent seamstress. She enjoyed helping with the farm work and working with the cattle. For several years she was a church organist and pianist at Grace Lutherian Church in Correll and was active with numerous church activities. She had an on-going participation in the 4-H and the extension service that included judging at county fairs and working with youngpeople. She was a member of the Extension Committee, Shorthorn Lassies, Akron Homemaker's Club and a master gardener. She was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church and served as the church treasurer. Audrey was also active with the church LWML, both at the zone and district level, and had attended four national conventions as an officer of the LWML. Audrey has always been known as a pleasant, positive and energetic person who always made the best of every situation and enjoyed every activity to its fullest. She had the gift of music and laughter and loved to share those fidgets with everyone she knew. She was loved by and loved her family, her church, her community and was a friend to many. Audrey died Tuesday afternoon Sept. 9th, after a battle with cancer at the Appleton Municipal Nursing Home. She had reached the age of 67 years, 13 days. She is survived by her husband, Dale; two children: Cecilie (Scott) Fields of Coon Rapids and Rodney Blum of Maple Grove; two grandchildren: Sydney and Shelbi Blum of Maple Grove; her brother, Lewis (Evelyn) Christopherson of Staples; her brother-in-law, Neal Blum, of Lombard, IL; four nieces and nephews: Alan (RoxAnne) Christopherson, Kent (Deb) Christopherson, Curt (Pam) Christopherson, and Beth (Art) Birquist; and other relatives. Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Ruth Christopherson; and her parents-in-law, Roy and Cora Blum. [Source: Ortonville Independent, Sep 16 2003, pg 10. Transcribed by Syndi Phillips]

PFC Craig Brenno
Burke County Marine is Killed in Vietnam
Larson, ND - Marine PFC Craig Brenno, 22, is the latest North Dakotan to die as a result of the Vietnam War. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Brenno, of Larson, in Burke County. Brenno died Tuesday at Oakland, Calif., where he was flown for treatment of wounds he received in Vietnam. He was an outstanding athlete at Columbus High School and attended the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks before entering the Marine Corps.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Trinity Lutheran Church at Columbux, ND. Burial will be at Minot. [The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, ND) 31 Mar 1967, p. 16]

Mrs. William Burrows
Mrs. William Burrows of Bowbells, died from the effects of a fall, which occured when she attempted to rise from her bed, after a long spell of pneumonia. In falling, her head was injured by striking some sharp object. [The Ward County Independent. (Minot, Ward County, N.D.), 20 April 1911]

Dr. Bushenville
Dr. Bushenville, the well known Bowbells doctor, died in Dr. Windells hospital in this city Saturday morning. He was taken down with typhoid pneumonia about a week before his death and rapidly grew worse. Dr. Windell was called there and brought the man to this city Thursday night. Dr. Bushenville was about 35 years old and was considered a first class physician. He was a gruadate from St. Louis. [The Ward County Independent. (Minot, Ward County, N.D.), 17 June 1903]

Mary Jo Dignan
Mary Jo Dignan, 75, Kenmare, N.D., died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, in the Kenmare Hospital. Mary Jo Fink was born on Oct. 16, 1931, the daughter of Roy and Isabelle (Meyer) Fink on the family farm near Lambert. She was raised and educated in Lambert, where she attended grade school at the Bradley Country School for eight years. She attended Lambert High School until her junior year, when her family moved to Sidney. She graduated from Sidney High School in 1949. In Aug. of 1950, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis School of Nursing, Minot, N.D. She graduated in June of 1953 with a Registered Nurse Diploma. She then returned to Sidney, where she was employed as an RN at the Sidney Community Hospital for eight months. Mary was married to John Leo Dignan II on June 16, 1954, in St. Philomena's Catholic Church in Sidney. They made their home in Coteau, N.D., until April of 1955, when they moved to the Dignan family farm, which was located west of Coteau. They farmed and ranched for the next 35 years, and raised their family of four sons and one daughter. She had helped in Public Health Nursing in Burke Co. from 1978 to 1988. In 1991, they moved to Kenmare, N.D., where she worked at the Kenmare Hospital as an RN from 1988 to July 1996. Mary also had been an Avon Representative since 1991. John passed away on April 21, 1995. She was a former member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bowbells, N.D., and was a member of the church's altar society. She was a member of Bowbells Senior Citizens. She was currently a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D., and was a member of the church's altar society. She was a member of Kenmare Senior Citizens, where she served as secretary of the senior citizen board. She also served on the Meals on Wheels Executive Board for four years. She enjoyed playing board games, bingo, puzzles, embroidery and fancy work, flowers and gardening. Surviving family includes: children, Ronald Dignan, Bowbells, Kevin (Patty) Dignan, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Tom (Deb) Dignan, Tioga, N.D., Kathleen Dignan, Williston, N.D., and Timothy Dignan, Kenmare; grandchildren, Michelle (Danny) Mogren, Mason Dignan, Robin (Travis) Ranum, Riley Dignan, Cody and Riese Dignan; great-grandchildren, Kasey and Kiley Mogren and Kaidyn and Gavin Ranum; sisters, Muriel John, Caldwell, Idaho, Margaret Vaira, Sidney; and Dorothy Fink, Sidney; brothers, Harold Fink, Sidney, John (Faye) Fink, Dewey, Ariz., Paul (Marcy) Fink, Pasco, Wash., William (Billiette) Fink, Lincoln, Calif., Robert Fink, Lambert, Joseph (Virginia) Fink, Fairview; James Fink, Williston; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson, Jeffrey Dignan; sister, Christine Schmitz; niece, Ruth Schmitz; and nephew, Robert Schmitz. Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, at 1 p.m., at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D. Visitation was held Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D. Rosary/Vigil Prayer Service was held Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at 3 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D. Interment was held Monday Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Bowbells, N.D.

Mike Hackett
UNFORTUNATE BOY.
Bowbells Tribune: Mike, the little son of Thos. J. Hackett, who was so shockingly burned about the body April 26 last by his clothes taking fire, it is alleged, from cinders in a heap of hot ashes emptied in the road near his home from the firehold of a passing thresher enginer, died in the county hospital at Minot on Saturday last at 5 o'clock p.m., and the remains were brought to this place on Sunday, where they were prepared in the undertaking rooms of T. O. Hunter for interment, which took place in the Catholic cemetery here on Monday. The little fellow had all these long days intervening between the inception of his misfortune and the date of his death been a most remarkably patient sufferer, ever cheery and light-hearted, making merry for his attendants, when it was only too well known to the latter that the little hero was going through the most intense suffering. Death came as a blessing, it being well known to the conceded by his physicians that he could never survive the injuries received. Everything that could be accomplished by unstinted use of money and lavish kindness was done to alleviate Mike's sufferings until death came to his relief. Funeral took place from the undertaking rooms as stated on Monday. [Source: The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican; Fargo, ND, Jan 25, 1904]; transcribed by Angie Lietzau

Frank Hoffman
Frank, the 20 year old son of Mrs. John Hoffman, formerly of Bowbells, died of apoplexy at Colman, Alta. [The Ward County Independent. (Minot, Ward County, N.D.), 15 July 1909]

Alvin "Shorty" Jorgensen
Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 11, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Bellingham, for Alvin "Shorty" Jorgensen. Rev. David Hall officiated. Special music was provided by organist Becky Knudson and Soloist Phyllis Seiler. Military honors were provided by Kanthak-Matthies Post 441, D.A.V. Western chapter #24, and the V.F.W. Post 1656. Active pallbearers included Dick Ohm, Lyle Olson, Vernon Olson, Lloyd Hanson, Harvey Plathe and Dwight Borgerson. Concluding services were held at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery. Alvin George Jorgensen was born Oct. 9, 1924, in rural Minnesota, to parents George and Alma (Pearson) Jorgensen. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian Faith at August Church in Marietta. Shorty first attended country school near his parents farm and then Marietta, graduating from Marietta High School in 1942. Shorty enlisted in the United States Army on Oct. 30, 1943. He served his country during WWII, receiving the American Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Theater Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Purple Heart. He was Honorably discharged Jan. 21, 1946. On Dec. 18, 2002 he received the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal. Shorty was united in marriage on Oct. 9, 1948 to Dorothy Cox in Augusta Lutheran Church of Marietta. To this union four sons were born. After marriage Shorty and Dorothy lived and farmed N.E. of Marietta for 16 years. They then moved to Bellingham where Shorty started working for the State Highway Department and then for the County as a Highway Worker. Shorty retired in 1990. Death came to Shorty, Sept. 8, 2003; at the Ortonville Hospital. He had reached the age of 78 years, 10 months and 29 days. He was a member of the Bellingham Legion, Madison V.F.W. and the Disabled American Veterans. In life Shorty enjoyed camping, fishing, having a great sense of humor and being with his family. Shorty is survived by his wife Dorothy of Bellingham, four sons; Darrell and wife Nora Jorgensen of Sioux Falls, SD, Alan and wife Diana Jorgensen of Wadena, Mark and wife Lana Jorgensen of Ortonville, and Galen and wife Cindy Jorgensen of Madison, SD, 10 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren, also a brother Helmar and wife Donna Jorgensen of Rochester. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Alma Jorgensen and a grandson Steven Jorgensen. [Source: Ortonville Independent, Sep 16 2003, pg 10. Transcribed by Syndi Phillips]

Mrs. Luckman
Mrs. Luckman of Bowbells died in a hospital at Minneapolis from trichinosis caused by eating infected pork. [Bismarck daily tribune. (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]), 17 March 1902]

Mrs. Miller
Mrs. Miller of Bowbells Died
Elder D.T. Dierdorff of Surrey was in the city today enroute to Bowbells, where he will officiate at the funeral of Mrs. Miller, who died at her home near that city Wednesday night, the obsequies to be held Friday. [The Ward County Independent. (Minot, Ward County, N.D.), February 15, 1917]

Mads Olson
Mads Olson, who was one of the first settlers of this place, well-known and respected of all, died last Monday night at 12:55 o'clock, at his home, five miles southeast of Bowbells. He was born in Denmark, Feb. 28, 1847, at Kiddinge, Solland, where he lived until 1877, when he emigrated to America. He came to Manson, Iowa, where he made his home for six years and then moved to Emmetsburg, Ia., where he lived for sixteen years and then moved to Emmetsburg, Ia., where he lived for sixteen years. From there he and his family came to Bowbells, ND. Here he took a homstead and built the home in which he died. He leaves a wife and eight children, who mourn his death and have the sincere sympathy of the community. The funeral took place from his late residence at 2 p.m. yesterday and was largely attended. Religious services were conducted by Rev. Blomberg of Flaxton. [Source: The Bowbells Tribune; Bowbells, ND, May 26, 1905]; transcribed by Angie Lietzau

Mary Piechowski
Funeral Services for Mary Piechowski, 91, of Beadsley will be held at 11:00 A.M. this Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Beardsley. Mary died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday evening with a 5:00 Daughters of Isabella Rosary and 7:00 prayer service also at the church in Beardsley. Visitation will also continue one-hour prior the service time at the church. Interment will be at St. Marys Cemetery. Survivors include five children, Dennis (Janice) Piechowski of Raymond, Pat Piechowski of Beardsley, Dick (Dolores) Piechowski of Beardsley, Mary (Sam) Ocel of Apple Valley, and Beverly (Charles) of Chalupnik of Circle Pines, three sisters in law; Dorothy (Carl) Moe of Two Harbors, Isabella Piechowski of Graceville, and Jean Benolkin of New Brighton, 15 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, six step great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. The Larson Funeral Home of Graceville is in charge of the arrangements. [Source: Ortonville Independent, Sep 16 2003, pg 10. Transcribed by Syndi Phillips]

Ellen Strom
Ellen Marie Strom, 60, of Prior Lake, previously of Lakeville and Bloomington, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, Sept. 8, 2003. She was surrounded by her loving husband and family after a courageous three-and-a-half years battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Ellen is survived by her husband of 37 years and high school sweetheart, Dale; her loving children, Jenna Eckholm (Brian), and Marco Strom (Kristie); her dear parents, the Rev. Clifford and Ruth Johnson; her two adoring grandchildren Jacey and Mason Eckholm; and special friends for your TLC and friendship. Heartfelt thanks from the the family to the ALS Association of MN, Courage Center, Reliable Medical, Fairview University Physical Therapy, and the Fairview Hospice team of "angels" for everything you've done. To know Ellen was to love Ellen. She always had a incredible ability to make others feel good about themselves and to feel loved by her. She was an amazing woman. She was a devoted wife and daughter; she was a selfless and loving mother; she was a true and endearing friend. Her energy was tireless, inspiring, and contagious throughout her life. She was a child of God. Ellen was a '61 graduate of Richfield High School and Augsburg College, '65, in Elementary Education. After teaching third grade in Bloomington and beginning her family, Ellen joined the Gittleman Corporation. The last 10 years Ellen has been Project Manager for G.M. Northrup Corporation. Ellen will be deeply missed by all who have known and loved her. We know how much you loved all of us…Ellen, EJ, Mama, Mom, Grandma, Ellie, Strom, E…We will never forget. You're the best there is. Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003 at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Mpls. Interment was at Lakewood. Memorials preferred to ALS Association of MN, Fairview Hospice, Mt. Olivet Radio Ministry or Trondhjem Community Preservation Society, Lonsdale, MN. Ellen's father was the pastor of Eidskog Church from 1939-1944. Ellen was born in the old hospital in Ortonville on April 10, 1943. Morris Nilsen Chapel was in charge of the arrangements. [Source: Ortonville Independent, Sep 16 2003, pg 10. Transcribed by Syndi Phillips]

Mary Sullivan
Mary, the 11 year old daughter of Patrick Sullivan of Bowbells, died July 2, of heart trouble. [The Ward County independent. (Minot, Ward County, N.D.), 14 July 1910]