Tanner Jespersen
Oct. 23, 1991-March 27, 2009Tanner M. Jespersen, 17, 7911 County Road 15 W., Minot, left our earthly world Friday, March 27, 2009, in a Minot hospital, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Ward County Road 14, near Minot.
Tanner Merton Jespersen was born Oct. 23, 1991, in Minot, to Daren and Renae (Purington) Jespersen. He attended several elementary schools in the Minot, Glenburn and Rugby areas. Prior to eighth grade, his family moved to Burlington, where he attended school and was currently a junior at Des Lacs-Burlington High School.
He was involved in many activities throughout the years including T-ball, soccer, wrestling, golf, football and baseball. He was recently chosen for the Academic Olympics. He loved history and wanted to become a history professor and a politician among other things. He had very definite opinions and stuck with what he believed in. He thought he was always right and usually he was. Tanner loved to clown around and could always make you laugh. His lovable antics will be sorely missed by all his family and friends.
Some of Tanner's favorite times were hunting with his dad, his best friend, Catlin, and Catlin's dad, Mike. He loved hanging out with his friends and his girlfriend, Jess, playing poker, and rooting for his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. He loved spending time with younger kids, especially his cousins, and they loved him. Tanner's favorite animals were dogs and he adored his dog, Susie.
Tanner was very close to his family and was especially protective of his sister, Stephanie, who he loved very much and who adored him. Tanner's departure from this life has left an unfillable hole for so many. We miss you and will hold you in our hearts forever.
Those who shared in his life: Parents, Daren and Renae Jespersen, Minot; sister, Stephanie Jespersen, Minot; girlfriend, Jessica Schloesser, Minot; grandparents, Merton and Ethel Jespersen, Minot, Sharen and Keith Bird, Minot, Woodrow Purington and Sally Baglien, Fergus Falls, Minn.; great-grandmother, Irene Voeller, Rugby; aunts and uncles, Godmother Sonya Woinarowicz and her friend, John Cacopardo, Boise, Idaho, Wade Woinarowicz, Oakdale, Minn., Todd Purington and Ginger Purington, and their children, Kirstie, Katryna and David, Minot, Kevin and Jessie Purington, and their children, Zach and Courtney, Lancaster, Ohio, Jenny and Steve Roskelley, and their children, Brody and Katie, Minot, Mike Iverson, and his children, Brandon and Owen, Minot, Mike and Mandy Purington, and their children, Lucas and Lexi, Heath, Ohio, Steven Purington, Kansas City, Mo. Sara Purington, Grand Forks, Melissa Purington, Grand Forks; Godparents, Jeff and Lynn Walsh, and their children, Whitney, Kali and Hannah, Wolford; and many great-aunts and great-uncles, cousins, and special friends.
Tanner was preceded in death by his grandmother, Elizabeth (Tootsie) Jespersen; great-grandparents, Jens Berge, Pius Voeller, Simon and Harriet Purington; great-uncles and great-aunts, Virgil and Clara Floyd, Dale Purington, Freda West, and Leonard Tofteland; cousins, Beth Welk, Dexter Voeller and Amanda Sather.
Joint funeral service: Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the Minot Municipal Auditorium.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: Today, March 31, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
