ERLING G. LANDSVERK
December 18, 1926 ~ September 22, 2016 (age 89)
Message from Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
Dear Gary and friends of Dunseith School Alumni,
T’was brought to my attention, the recent passing of Erling Landsverk.
Erling’s family were former residents from the Turtle Mountain area.
Several of his family were known to be gifted area stone masons.
Erling and several his siblings and cousins attended Dunseith School.
Erling added much reading pleasure for those of us reading the Dunseith blog.
A few years ago, the summer of the “All Country School Reunion”, it was my pleasure to meet Erling, his sister Borg, and several of their sons visiting at the Family Bakery.
A WWII veteran, Erling was of of the Greatest Generation.
For me, meeting Erling was like being introduced to the epitome of a “Renaissance man”.
He was graciously knowledgeable as a musician, a writer, and knew a whole lot about rocks!
My sincere sympathy to Erling’s extended family and friends who dearly miss him.
Karen from the Spectrum was so kind, as to scan and send on to you a funeral program
Until Later,
Vickie L. Metcalfe
ERLING G. LANDSVERK
December 18, 1926 ~ September 22, 2016 (age 89)
KING/PARDEEVILLE — Erling Gunder Landsverk passed away from complications of COPD on September 22. His very productive life was an inspiration for all who knew him.
He was born in Dunseith, North Dakota December 18, 1926 to Gunder & Olga (Grasvold) Landsverk. He spent his youth growing up in the Turtle Mountains during the Great Depression until his family moved to Wisconsin in 1943. He graduated from Rio high School in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the Army where he served his country in combat in the Philippines during WWII. After returning from the war he studied music in St. Paul where he mastered the classical guitar, a gift he shared with family and friends for generations. In 1948, he began working in construction as a bricklayer and stonemason, eventually running work for Marshall Erdman, based in Madison where he worked on several Frank Lloyd Wright projects, including the Unitarian Church in Madison.
1951 he married Louise Joan Larson at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rio, Wisconsin. In 1954 he began a small general contracting business, which he operated from the Pardeeville area for over 30 years, completing a wide range of projects in residential, commercial, industrial and public works. During that time that he trained many young men in the building trades and guided them to grow and develop into master craftsmen. His dedicated employees were like an extended family to him. After retiring from his construction business, he worked part time as an expeditor and property manager in Plover until macular degeneration finally took most of his sight. The epitome of perseverance, he continued to entertain with his music and published many thought provoking opinion articles in the local newspapers. He was a member of the American Legion and Masonic Lodge and conducted Masonic rites for many members over the years. He served on the Pardeeville School Board, church council and supported numerous community activities.
Erling was preceded in death by his parents, Gunder and Olga; brothers Rolf and Harold (Ozzie); and sisters Borghild Filas and Thelma Johnson; nephew Steve and grandson Justin. He is survived by his wife, Joan; sons Owen, Eric, Gary and daughter Amy; grandchildren Jennifer, Christopher, Nicholas, Jacob, Jason and Jonathan; great-grandchildren Treyten, Kaleb, Kennedy, Riley, Lia, and Genevieve; nieces, nephews and many other dear friends.
Funeral services with full military honors will be held 11 AM Monday September 26 at Bonnet Prairie Lutheran Church in Rio with Pastor Joan Wittrock officiating. Burial will follow at Bonnet Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, September 25 from 3 to 6 PM at Grasse Funeral Home, 119 Industrial Drive, Pardeeville and from 9:30 AM until time of service Monday at the church.
The family would like to give special thanks to ThedaCare Hospice and the wonderful staff of the King Veterans Home for their kindness and wonderful care during his final weeks.
Gary’s remarks,
I am so so sadden to hear of Erling’s passing. I have been thinking of him lately too, because we had not heard from him for quite some time.
As most of us know, Erling was totally blind, but he didn’t let his being blind be a hindrance to his daily living at all. He received and replied to all his own email independently without any assistance from anyone else at all. He had the system master very well. We received many postings from Erling. He cherished his childhood days and the life he lived in the Turtle Mountains and the Dunseith area. He had unbelievable detaiedl memories of the people and for most everything else of those years too.
Erling was such an inspiration to each and every one of us. The last thing in the world that he wanted was pity. In fact it was weeks into our conversations before he even let us know he was blind. I was shocked beyond belief as were so many others.
This world needs a whole lot more Erling Landsverk’s.
We will miss him dearly.
Cora Walette Vivier (’65) Passed away
Message from Margaret Metcalfe Leonard Casavant (’65): Rolette, ND
Hi Gary, Just to let you know that Cora Walette Vivier died this morning in the Rolette Care Center.
On Fridays we have Mass at the RCC and I have visited with her often over the past few years.
She was in our class for a short period of time and then went to Belcourt, but I remember a birthday party at Pam Fassett’s out in the country when they lived by Willow Creek. We were in about the 5th grade and she was there.
She also worked at the Elementary School in Belcourt when I worked at the High School. We will all miss her at the Care Center; she was a gentle soul. My fondest memory of Cora was the morning when one of the resident’s blankets slipped down and Cora came and gently covered her up and gave her a kiss.
That act of lkindness brought tears to my eyes.
Margaret Leonard Casavant
Message from Florence Hiatt Dahl (’50): Anchorage, AK
Hi Gary. This growing old is the pits…..so sorry about Bernadette. Bless you both. Thank you for all your news.. Will have to admit that I have been gone so long I don’t remember a lot of the people on your blog. But I never miss reading them….. Had a wonderful summer in Alaska, and it appears we are going to have another mild winter. Not complaining—I like it. Take care and God bless you both….
Gary’s comments
Florence, so great hearing from you. I bet you know many of the families of those mentioned though.
For a few memories I pasted the Ackworth news, below, from 2/15/1940. That is nearly 77 years ago too. You were probably about 8 years old then. I think you will recognize a few names there.
Reply to the Dunseith pictures posted with the last blog
From Kay Hosmer (’77): Crown Point, Ind
Dunseith the way I remember it! Hosmer’s store! – Kay Hosmer
From Colette Hosmer (’64): Santa Fe, NM
Hi Gary,
Loved the snow on main street photos. Do you know what year that was?
Colette
Gary’s reply
Colette, I don’t know what year those pictures were taken. With some research I can find out, however I think some of our readers know the year. I am not sure who shard those with us either. I think maybe Dick Johnson or possibly Susan Fassett Martin.
Josephine Mary (LeSedo) (Davis) poitra, 106 years old, passed away
Posting from Ginger LaRocque Poitra (’65): Belcourt, ND.
Hi Gary,
Last evening at about 10 we lost Anthony’s mother
12/25/1910—10/21/2016 , she was almost 106 yrs old. 2 months shy of that age.
Josephine Mary (LeSedo) (Davis) poitra. LeSedo is the name most people knew her by.
She joined her husband Michael, a son Dale, and another son Anthony, my husband, out of her family there are 12 left.
With this size family (14) she undoubtedly was a very hard worker, she also worked out of the home , at San Haven. They had a farm, cattle and pigs, working the fields, she would make meals for the workers, along with the large family. There were no twins in their family.
She made her own bread, loaves, buns as well as gullet, she canned pickles, berries, made a garden, I am sure she did much more than I can even think of.
We will miss her with all our hearts she joined the Lord our God in heaven with her husband and her children.
God Bless her and keep her and the rest of her family she has joined.
Love you LeSedo, I will miss you forever, thank you for being a great mother-in-law to me.
Ginger
Thank you all for listening
I sent along this picture of her it was taken when she was in the Dunseith Parade this summer