Gordon Burau
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Jan. 2, 1917-Aug. 4, 2008
Gordon Burau, age 91, of Crosby, ND, and formerly of Larson, passed away on Monday, August 4, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Crosby.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2008, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Noonan, with Vice Pastor Sandy Anderson officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery in Battleview with military honors provided by Frye-Hauerud American Legion Post #183. Visitation will be today, August 6, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Stakston-Martin Funeral Home in Crosby and also one hour before the service at the church.
Gordon was born on January 2, 1917, to Fred and Annie (Pearson) Burau on a farm south of Larson. Gordon attended school at the Redka School south of Larson until 1926, when the family moved to Bowbells when Fred became the Burke County sheriff. Gordon graduated from Bowbells High School in 1935.
After high school, Gordon spent 6 months in the CCC in Escalante, Utah. Gordon also served his county in World War II from 1941 to 1945. He was in the 639th anti aircraft division and spent time in England, France and Germany. Gordon was honorably discharged in 1945.
He came back to North Dakota and became a caretaker of the family farm. He was a farmer all of his life, many of those years in partnership with his brother, Wallace, and in later years with his son, Tom. In addition to his farmland, he raised chickens, beef and dairy cattle and always had a huge garden, which he generously shared with his family and friends.
Gordon was a member of the Frye-Haugerud American Legion Post in Columbus for 62 years, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Noonan and served many years on the Burke County Soil Conservation Board.
Gordon married Harriet Melberg in Battleview, ND, on October 18th, 1947. To this union was born three children: Tom, Roger and Pam. Harriet passed away in 1957. After Harriet's death, Gordon's mother and Harriet's mother stayed and cared for the family on the farm until Gordon married Idella Brandt in Noonan, ND, on September 7th, 1962. Idella passed away in December 2005.
Gordon is survived by: two sons, Tom (Jude) Burau of Columbus, Roger (Sondra) Burau of Castle Rock, CO; and one daughter, Pam (Joe) Blaha of Littleton, CO; three grandsons, Scott Burau of Beverly Hills, CA, Danny (McCall) Burau of Providence, RI, and Brent Goldal of Wakarusa, IN; three granddaughters, Nicole Burau of Minot, Shayla Wheeler of Fargo, and Denise (Shawn) Hellen of Williston; six great-grandchildren, Ashly, Ryan and Nikole Hellen of Williston, Hailey Wheeler of Minot, Aiden and Chase Wheeler of Grand Forks; plus many nieces and nephews.
Two wives, Harriet and Idella; one daughter, Lynette; his parents, Fred and Annie; two brothers, Wallace and Harold; and two sisters, Helen and Loretta, preceded Gordon in death.
Stakston-Martin Funeral Home of Crosby is in charge of arrangements.
