Gary Eriksmoen

Gary Eriksmoen, 83,

Minot, went to his eternal

home Sunday, February

18, 2018, in a Minot hos-

pital with his loving fami-

ly by his side.

Gary was born July 30,

1934, in Ambrose, ND to

Henry and Cora (Tyson)

Eriksmoen. He grew up

and attended school in

Ambrose, graduating with

the high school class of

1952. Gary continued his

education in Concordia

for a year until enlisting

in the United States Army

entering active duty on

December 10, 1953. Gary

was stationed in Korea

and was honorably

discharged November 29,

1955. He completed his

education as a graduate of

Minot State University in

1960.

Gary was united in mar-

riage to Louise Harkness

on June 8, 1958 at the Un-

ited Methodist Church in

Sherwood. They lived in

Maddock and Rolla while

Gary was teaching until

moving back to Minot on

Valentine’s Day in 1970.

Gary gained employment

with State Human Ser-

vices for the next 33

years, retiring January 1,

1999.

He was a 40-year

member of the Minot

Magic City Lions and the

ND Conference of Social

Workers, where he served

as a representative. He

also carried memberships

to the Minot Eagles Aerie

#2376 and served as

Secretary for 13 years and

Faith United Methodist

Church in Minot, serving

on many committees.

Retirement left Gary the

time to devote to the Faith

United Methodist Food

Pantry and Soup Kitchen

for many years. Gary en-

joyed working in the gar-

den, raising strawberries

and vegetables but always

took the time to feed and

watch the birds in his

yard and had a front row

seat to the rabbits and the

squirrels’ attempts to steal

the leftovers. He will be

remembered as a gentle,

soft spoken man who was

a wonderful husband, fa-

ther, grandfather, and

great-grandfather. He

loved and supported his

family.

Gary is survived by: his

loving wife of 59 years,

Louise Eriksmoen of

Minot; children, Brian

(Kim) Eriksmoen, Sher-

wood, Diane Eriksmoen,

Jennifer Eriksmoen and

Tracey (Dan) Olson all of

Minot; grandchildren,

Amy (Jason) Bohannan,

Memphis, TN, Jason

(Wendy) Eriksmoen,

Bismarck, ND; Jody

(Mike) Weigel, Lincoln,

ND, and Charles

Eriksmoen, Sherwood ND;

great-grandchildren,

Slade, Dax Bohannan,

Nickolis, Alexis, Allie,

Emmalee, Bowden

Eriksmoen, Devin, Mason,

Bayla Weigel; sisters,

Hope Palmer, Miami, AZ,

Faith Urich, Erwin, TN,

Eleanor Olsen, Kalispell,

MT and Charlotte Grotte,

Crosby, ND; brothers,

John (LaNorma) Raaum,

San Manuel, AZ and Da-

vid Eriksmoen, Ambrose,

ND along with many spe-

cial nieces, nephews and

friends.

Gary was preceded in

death by: his parents,

Henry Eriksmoen and

Cora (Tyson) Spradling

and stepmother, Christine

Eriksmoen, daughter, Lisa

Eriksmoen, sisters, Bar-

bara Eriksmoen, Charity

Stokes, Joanne Stewart,

Lillian Walsh, Rose Ann

Spradling and Rose Mon-

son and brothers, Lauren

Spradling, and Edward

Walsh.

Celebration of Life Ser-

vice: 11:00 a.m. Friday,

February 23, 2018 at Faith

United Methodist Church

in Minot.

Public Prayer Service:

7:00 p.m. Thursday,

February 22, 2018, at the

Thomas Family Funeral

Home, Minot.

Interment: Sherwood

Cemetery, Sherwood, ND

(Spring 2018)

Visitation will be held

on Thursday, February

22, 2018, from 3:00 p.m.

until 6:00 p.m. at the Tho-

mas Family Funeral

Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to the Magic City Lions,

Faith United Methodist

Church, both of Minot or

to an organization of the

donor’s choice.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories are

invited to use the expres-

sions of sympathy section

at www.thomas

familyfuneralhome.com.