OBERT P. MEDLANG

Funeral services for Obert Medlang, age 64 of Bottineau, were held on Monday at 10:00 A.M. in the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Cremation has taken place. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Desiree Uhrich. Special music was provided. Casket bearers were all family and friends in attendance.

Obert Medlang, a son of Odin and Kenrose (Ryan) Medlang, was born on June 25, 1947 at Rolette, ND. He attended school in Dunseith and graduated in 1966. Obert then attended the North Dakota School of Forestry at Bottineau for a year. He then attended Mayville State College for a time. After his education he began working on the oil rigs. In the late 60’s he worked in Saudi Arabia as an off-shore driller. Obert then returned to the United States. On December 28, 1972 he was married to Sandy Laugsand at Lake Metigoshe. This marriage later ended. He worked in the Midwest with different oil companies for many years. He retired in 2002 and has resided in Bottineau since.

He enjoyed Harleys, women and guns. Obert loved horses. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith.

Obert passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2012 in a Minot hospital,

He is survived by sons Owen Medlang of Kenmare, and Beau Medlang and his wife, Andrea of Bottineau; grandchildren, Kirsten Medlang, Kortni Medlang, Bradley Medlang, Danica Medlang and Easton Medlang; sister Marlys Macy of St. Louis, MO; special friend, Connie Vetter of Bottineau and Robert Lagerquist of Bottineau.

Obert was preceded in death by his parents, and a grandson Christopher.

Emma Sofie (Brudwick) Kofoid, 94, Bottineau, ND, died Friday, March 2, 2012 in a Bottineau nursing home. Emma was born May 5th, 1917, to Andrew and Ellen Johanna (Laugsand) Brudwick, near the “Mouse” River east of Westhope, ND. In November of 1928, Andrew and Ellen, with their family of five children, left the Landa, ND, area and moved to Bruvik, Norway, Andrew’s birthplace. The family also lived, for a time, near Sandvollan, Norway, where Ellen’s family lived. Finding America offered more opportunities than Norway did, the family returned to ND in July 1930. After returning to North Dakota and settling in the Turtle Mts. NE of Bottineau, ND, Emma attended the Jelleberg and Cordelia Schools. On October 16, 1935, Emma and John Norman Kofoid were united in marriage by Rev. Mjaanes in the Vinje Church parsonage, rural Bottineau. Following their marriage, John and Emma worked at various jobs in several states before settling in Bottineau, ND. These locations included Belgrade, (MT), Woodburn (OR) area and Oslo (MN) . These were the depression years; people went where they could find work. John and Emma enjoyed traveling. They toured most of the United States, parts of Canada and Europe. They spent many of the chilly North Dakota winters in Arizona and Florida. One of their more interesting trips included traveling to Cape Canaveral, Florida to watch the historic first space shuttle launch. In 1963, John, Emma and their daughter, Neola, flew to Amsterdam, Netherlands, where they were met by John and Emma’s son, Jim, who was stationed at Stuttgart, Germany. The four of them toured Europe and visited relatives for several weeks, including visiting Bruvik, Norway, and Sandvollan, Norway, where Emma had lived many years before. Throughout Emma’s life she had a great love for her grandchildren and great grand children. Many summers, John and Emma welcomed and cared for their grandchildren, Oliver and Denise, who enjoyed spending time in Bottineau (and eating Oma’s lefse). John (Opa) would take the grandchildren fishing and Emma (Oma) would fry up the catch. John and Emma spent many moments laughing at and enjoying all the mischief their grandchildren conjured up, making for lasting, loving family memories. Emma was known for her keen memory and enjoyed sharing stories and reminiscing with her grandchildren and great grand children. She was always interested in her children’s endeavors and supported and encouraged their interests in life. Emma was a member of First Lutheran Church in Bottineau where she participated in the ladies’ groups. Emma enjoyed “old time” music and was a wonderful dancer. She enjoyed visiting with friends and relatives. Many times, the conversations included discussing former good times, dates when an event happened, birth dates of relatives and friends and other topics of interest. Emma would remind her daughter, Neola, about upcoming birthdays. Neola would send birthday greetings and get the credit for remembering the birthday. Everyone knew this is how it “worked”, but it was fun. A few years after her husband, John, passed away, Emma moved Edgewood Vista, an assisted living facility in Minot, ND. She resided in Minot until June 2008 when Good Samaritan in Bottineau became her home. Emma is survived by her daughter, Neola (Wally) Garbe, Minot, ND; son, James Kofoid, Bottineau, ND; grandson, Oliver Kofoid (partner, Carol Narkiewicz), Key West, FL; granddaughter, Denise (Raymond) Corbo, Ashburn, VA; three great grandchildren, Vinson Corbo, Los Angeles, CA; Alyssa and Alexis Corbo, Ashburn; nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband, Emma was preceded in death by an infant son; her parents; infant brother; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Milen (Alvina Johnson) Brudwick, Kenneth (Doris Schneider) Brudwick; Gerald (Delores Berg) Brudwick; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Alvina (Clarence) Christianson and Alice (Martin) Berg; three brothers-in-law and their wives, Walter and Viola Larson Kofoid, Robert and Thelma Slyter Kofoid, Elmer and Alice Cornwell Kofoid; sister-in-law, Emma Kofoid Cram and her husband, Orville; brother-in-law, Oscar Kofoid. Funeral services: were at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 6 at First Lutheran Church, Bottineau, ND. Burial was in Oak Creek Cemetery, Bottineau. www.nerofuneralhome