LaVern’s Obituary LaVern Shefstad, 85, Minot, ND, formally of Bowbells, ND, passed away at 8:40 am Tuesday at Trinity Hospital. He had been a resident at a memory care facility in Minot. LaVern was born north of Columbus on the Julian Shefstad farm on May 21, 1933 to Clarence and Esther (Running) Shefstad.
They moved to the outskirts of Columbus where he grew up. He was the fourth of eight children. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, ND.
He enlisted in the Army in Feb. 1954. That same year he married the love of his life, Gail Glasso, on April 20 at Noonan.
While serving a year in Alaska, his first son, Richard Dale was born. He returned to collect his wife and 6 month old son to make the journey to New Orleans where he completed his service. The day after returning to Noonan, he went to work for Texaco Service for more than eight years.
During this time they had two more sons, Larry Dean and Todd Wayne. A daughter, Joy Marie, made their family complete. LaVern left Texaco to join the Production Roustabout Service crew for four years.
He worked on the newly drilled wells belonging to Northern Pump Company. When the 4th well was completed, he was hired full-time by Northern Pump Company to serve as their Company Production Manager. For this job, LaVern moved his family to the Bowbells area which became their home of 44 years before moving to Minot.
This company eventually sold out to Ensign Gas and Oil, and LaVern became their Field Superintendent of the North Dakota District. Along with his work in the oil patch, LaVern found great joy in living in the country. He eventually became a land owner which made him proud.
He was a country boy at heart, and enjoyed all things “country”: horses, cattle, farming, early mornings and country drives. But the thing that really made his eyes twinkle were his grandchildren and great grandchildren. LaVern is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gail, Minot; their children, Rick (Bev), Grass Valley, CA, Larry (Cindi), Lufkin, TX and their children Taylor and Garrett, Todd (Sandy), Lignite, ND, and their children Shanna, Kelsey and Caitlin, and Joy Walker (Rick), Minot, and their sons Jory and Travis.
LaVern was also a proud great -grandparent to Shea, Owen, Lincoln and Wells. LaVern is also survived by his youngest brother, Nolan, Clatskanie, OR. Preceding him in death were his siblings; Walter, Verena, Virgil, Cleone, Clair and Marlow.
Visitation will be on Friday, February 1st, 2019, from 4 to 5:30 pm at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Minot with a Prayer Service at Friday at 5:30 pm. LaVern’s funeral service will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bowbells on Saturday, February 2nd, 2019 at 11:00 am. Burial will be at Columbus Cemetery in Columbus.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Bowbells Ambulance or to the Bowbells Fire Department.
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