Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: neola@min.midco.net Minot, ND

Leola Lagerquist  1926 – 2021

 Leola Lagerquist

April 04, 1926 – July 10, 2021

Leola Lagerquist, age 95 of Dunseith, passed away Saturday, July 10, 2021 at her daughter’s home in Dunseith.  Her funeral will be held on Friday, July 16, 2021 at 10:00 am at the Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith.  Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Burial will be at the Ackworth Cemetery.

Leola B Hiatt Lagerquist was born on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926, the 7th of 12 children to George and Eva (Crawford) Hiatt at home – rural Dunseith. She attended Ackworth School. After graduating from the 8th grade, Leola worked for different families in the Dunseith area, besides helping her older siblings with their families and helping care for her younger siblings. Leola married Johnnie Lagerquist on December 4, 1948 in Rolla, ND. They lived on the Lagerquist family farm. There they raised their family of 9 children. Johnnie passed away September 27, 1990. Leola was busy from morning to night. In the summer she raised a big garden, canned vegetables, and picked and processed berries for syrup, jellies and sauces. She helped milk the cows and would churn cream to make butter. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and would bake a large batch of bread every week, sometimes more than once a week. Leola also baked a lot of cookies, cakes, pies, etc. All of her family enjoyed her homemade goods.

Leola worked in the kitchen at the International Music Camp for over 30 years, retiring at the age of 80. She was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith, the Kelvin Homemakers Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. She helped teach Bible School and served as a leader of the Mountaineers 4 H Club. These were just a couple of things she truly enjoyed doing.

Leola wants to be remembered for how much she loved and cared for her husband Johnnie and their children Rodney, Lyle, Ray, Dale, Kurt, Evon, Carl, Kim and Bruce and their families. She loved doing whatever she could for them and looked forward to and enjoyed visits from them.

Leola is survived by her daughter Evon, sons Rodney, Lyle, Kurt, Carl (Tara) all of Dunseith, Ray (Lori) of Boulder, MT, Dale (Marlene) of Bottineau, and Bruce of Manhattan, KS, 23 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild, sisters Nettie Peterson of Dunseith and Ena Birkland of Seattle, WA and numerous nieces and nephews.

Leola passed away on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at her daughter’s home.

Leola was preceded in death by her husband Johnnie, infant daughter Gail Sue and her son Kim Allen, a grandson Trey Michael, brothers Albert, Johnnie, Harry, George, and Glen Hiatt, sisters Violet House, Esther McCallie, Alvina Thompson, and Faye Tohm, her parents and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home In Bottineau.  Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.

Gary Stokes comments
I am so Saddened to hear of Leola’s passing. She and the Lagerquist family were very close friends and Neighbors of ours grow up in the Ackworth community in the hills of the turtle mountains, where Leola lived her entire life. There are very few of her Hiatt Generation still living and they were many.
Leola and my Dad both attended the Ackworth county school as did Leola’s older children (Rodney, Lyle Ray and Dale), my brothers (Darrel Allen) and me.
I extend my condolences to the entire Lagerquist family with her passing. She will be missed dearly, but never forgotten.   

Dunseith Bakery Memories
Posting from Don Malateree (’72)  donmalaterre@gmail.com  Sioux Falls, SD

The first time I ever stepped into the backroom of the Dunseith bakery I asked Herman what he was making. He answered Banana Bread. The second time I stepped into the backroom of the Dunseith bakery I asked Herman what he was making. He answered Banana Bread. The third time I stepped into the backroom of the Dunseith bakery I asked Herman how’s that banana bread coming along. We both looked at each other and broke out laughing. He explained to me that he had been using that same canned statement for years. But, that, I had been the fastest to catch on to his running joke. Anyhow a few years later maybe around 1969 I was working in the bakery. One time when it was a real quiet day and no one was around Adam Lang walked in. Those of you who know Adam Lang know that he’s a straight forward no nonsense kind of a guy. Adam peaked around the corner, noticed that I was alone and asked me what I was working on. I told him banana bread. He looked at me and said ‘I don’t know what you’re making but it’s not banana bread.’ I pretended I didn’t know who he was and shouted out to Herman who was working in the far back room. I said Herman, this guy wants to know what I’m working on. Herman, not knowing who was out front shouted out ‘Banana Bread.’ Adam looked at me and his eyes got real big. Again he said ‘I don’t know what you’re making but it’s not banana bread and he just walked away. To this day I just crack up every time I think of that story. In fact I’m chuckling now as I’m typing to you good folks.