Gail Neukom

passed away in Fargo

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015,

with her children by her

side.

She was born Sept. 27,

1928, to Amandus and

Oline Esterby, in Minot.

She was the third of six

children.

Gail graduated from

Minot High School but

she was not able to walk

across the stage to accept

her diploma as her senior

year she was in bed with

rheumatic fever and com-

pleted her studies from

home. After she recov-

ered she went to work at

the Ward County Treas-

urer’s Office for her father

who was the county

treasurer.

Gail married Chester G.

Neukom Aug. 19, 1951,

in Minot. They moved to

Fort Riley, Kan., while

Chet served in the Army.

Daughter Nancy was born

there in 1952 and sons

Rick and Mark were born

in Minot, in 1954 in

1960, respectively. Gail

loved being a mother and

was a wonderful cook,

baker and seamstress.

She prioritized setting a

beautiful table for family

gatherings. Gail enjoyed

playing bridge, both with

Chet and with her

friends. She followed her

children’s activities, em-

phasizing the importance

of music, the arts and

education. Gail supported

Chet’s career and the fam-

ily moved to Jamestown

in 1969 when Chet’s em-

ployer, Haybuster Inc.,

relocated there from Mi-

not.

Chet passed away in

December 1988. Gail’s

faith provided her with

strength during this time.

She immersed herself in

church and community

activities. She attended

local high school games

and musical events and

she frequently traveled to

Devils Lake for concerts

of grandsons Jason and

Sean Neukom and their

dad Rick.

Gail loved to travel and

spend time with her fami-

ly. She and Chet traveled

extensively in the United

States. They also went to

Mexico, to many places

in Canada and Europe,

and to Germany to see

Mark while he served in

the Army. Sometimes

there were road trips to

see sisters in Wyoming or

St. Cloud, Minn. The

grandchildren would

often go along and they

still tell stories of driving

with Grandma Gail. Gail

and her sisters enjoyed

attending the annual

Norsk Hostfest in Minot.

One of her favorite ex-

periences was when she

and Gloria took their dad

to visit his birthplace in

Norway.

Gail is survived by:

daughter, Nancy and her

husband Pat Lyons of

Brookings, S.D.; sons,

Rick of Devils Lake, and

Mark and his wife Shir-

ley of Crystal, Minn.;

four grandchildren, Man-

dy (Bill) deBlonk of

Brookings, Meghan (Joji)

Calabro of Kansas City,

Sean Neukom and Jason

Neukom, both of Pitts-

burgh; two great-grand-

sons, Chet and Wyatt de-

Blonk, and two great-

granddaughters, Sophie

and Shelby Nordvik; sis-

ters, Carol Clemetson,

Gloria Rakness and

brother-in-law Richard

Rakness, all of Sartoga,

Wyo., and Renee Schei of

Avon, Minn.; brother,

Bob Esterby of Minot;

and many nieces and

nephews.

She was preceded in

death by: her parents;

husband, Chet Neukom;

daughter-in-law, Marie

Neukom; brother, Art Es-

terby; brothers-in-law,

Lloyd Clemetson and

Lyle Schei; and sisters-

in-law, Donna Esterby,

Mary Lou Esterby and

Arlene Neukom.

Funeral service: 2 to-

day, Thursday, Nov. 19

at Trinity Lutheran

Church, Jamestown, with

Pastor Kristi Weber, offi-

ciating.

Visitation: one hour be-

fore the service at church.

Burial: Highland Home

Cemetery, Jamestown.

Online guest book:

www.eddyfuneralhome.

com.