Harlis Sem
July 22, 1931-April 16, 2021
Harlis A “Bud” Sem, 89,
of Powers Lake, passed
away on Friday, April 16,
2021 at the Tioga Medical
Center in Tioga, ND.
Springan Stevenson Fun-
eral Home of Stanley has
been entrusted with ar-
rangements and services.
Friends may sign the
on-line register and give
their condolences at
www.springanstevenson.com.
Harlis’s Funeral Ser-
vice will be held at 11:00
AM on Saturday, April 24,
2021 at the Bethel Baptist
Church in Powers Lake,
ND. Burial will be in
Bethel Baptist Cemetery
in Powers Lake, ND. A
luncheon will follow the
burial at the Church. Visi-
tation will be held an
hour prior to services at
the Church.
Springan Stevenson
Funeral Home of Stanley
has been entrusted with
arrangements and ser-
vices. Friends may sign
the on-line register and
give their condolences at
www.springansteven
son.com.
The Funeral Service
will be broadcast, you can
view Harlis’s service
directly on his obituary
page on our website
www.springansteven
son.com.
Due to Covid 19, we ask
that everyone adheres to
local and state require-
ments for social distanc-
ing. Harlis Sem was born
July 22, 1931 at home in
Mountrail County near
Powers Lake, North Dako-
ta. Harlis was the third of
four children. He was the
third generation to live
and farm South of Powers
Lake.
Harlis married Dagney
Enget on October 25th,
1951 in a double wedding
with brother Phalen and
Dagney’s sister Darlene.
Harlis worked in the Tio-
ga oil field until the unex-
pected death of his father,
William in 1961. He took
over the family farm. In
1965, a hail storm took his
crop. He moved his family
to Powers Lake and ran
the local restaurant for
one year while continuing
to farm and milk cows. He
loved the farm life. He
would say he liked buying
angus heifers more than
buying a new car. In 1978
he sold his milking cows
and worked in Prudhoe
Bay, Alaska with his
brother, Phalen for 6
years. In 1984, he bought
milk cows back and con-
tinued to milk for a few
more years. In 1986, he
sold the milk cows once
again. Focusing on farm-
ing and raising angus cat-
tle.
He enjoyed hunting and
fishing with his many
friends. Fishing in Canada
was always a highlight.
Harlis retired on his
80th birthday, selling his
angus cows and buying a
winter home in Apache
Junction, AZ where he en-
joyed the warmer weather
with friends.
He is survived by sons,
Scott (Tami) Sem, Am-
brose, ND; Claude (Pati)
Sem, Minot, ND; and Sta-
cey (Brenda) Sem,
Thompson, ND and
daughter, Sandy (Donny)
Leiseth, Williston, ND.
Eleven grandchildren,
William (Bill) Sem, Tanya
Hill, Trisha Werre, Katie
Peterson, Kimberly Keller,
Kelli Sem, Chelsie Black,
Evan Johnson, Megan
Aichele, Kaitlyn Ratchen-
ski and Joshua Sem. Six-
teen great-grandchildren
along with a number of
nieces and nephews.
Harlis was preceded in
death by his wife, Dag-
ney; parents, William and
Ruth; brothers, Allen and
Phalen and sister, Caro-
line Hermanson.