Obituaries

LaVerne M. Bear

LaVerne M. Bear

Feb 9, 2026

LaVerne M. Bear, 69 of the Spirit Lake Nation began her journey to the Spirit World on Monday, February 9, 2026 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

The Wake for LaVerne will be on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael, ND beginning at 4:00 p.m.  The procession will leave on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. from City...

Tom Lindquist

Tom Lindquist

Feb 11, 2026

Thomas Andrew "Tom" Lindquist Sr. of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at Golden Acres Manor, Carrington, ND at the age of 83.

Funeral Services for Tom will be held on Monday, Saturday, February 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND with Military Honors.

Bill Lunak

Bill Lunak

Feb 10, 2026

William Ray “Bill” Lunak Jr. of Devils Lake, ND passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at CHI, St. Alexius Health, Devils Lake Hospital at the age of 79.

Funeral Services for Bill will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.

William Ray “Bill” Lunak Jr. of Devils Lake, ND passed...

Annette (Winn) Fisher

Annette (Winn) Fisher

Jan 9, 2026

Annette (Winn) Fisher, age 81, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026, at Cherrywood Advanced Living in St. Cloud, surrounded by her loved ones. Arrangements are being made with Miller-Carlin Funeral Homes of St. Cloud.

Annette was born on October 23, 1944, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Howard and Jane (Witworth) Winn.

On January 18, 1964, she was united...

Sheila Windjue

Sheila Windjue

Jan 30, 2026

Sheila Windjue lived a life defined by quiet strength, deep loyalty, and a generous heart that made everyone around her feel cared for.

Sheila, daughter of Arthur and Norma (Armentrout) Skramstad, was born on May 4, 1950, in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Born and raised in the Devils Lake community, she grounded her life in hard work, family, and service to...

Brandon Black

Brandon Black

Feb 13, 2026

Brandon Black, 40 of St. Michael, ND began his journey to the Spirit World on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks. Loving family with him as he began his journey. 

There will be a Prayer Service on Monday evening, February 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael. Please join them as they continue to...

Diane M. Pacheco

Diane M. Pacheco

Feb 12, 2026

Diane M. Pacheco, 50 of Devils Lake ND formerly of Chicago, Illinois passed away after a long battle with cancer on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. 

No local services are planned so no local family for flowers and memorials gifts. 

Diane Mary Moore, was born on September 15, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of William...

Lucinda Lou Bertsch

Lucinda Lou Bertsch

Feb 5, 2026

The service will be live streamed at Facebook.com/aizlutheranparish

Lucinda Lou “Cindy” Bertsch, 84 of Devils Lake ND passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in the care of HIA (Hospice) surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral Services for Cindy will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Scott Ramey officiating. Burial...

Richard C. Durbin

Richard C. Durbin

Feb 3, 2026

Richard C. Durbin "Durby" a lifelong resident of Devils Lake ND passed away after a brief battle with cancer on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at home under Hospice care, surrounded by his loving family.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Western State Bank Event Center (formerly...

Barbara Ann Ambers

Barbara Ann Ambers

Feb 2, 2026

Barbara Ann (Olson) Ambers, 76, of Minnewaukan, ND passed away February 2, 2026, at the Eventide Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake with her loving husband by her side. 

Visitation will be at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service for Barbara will be held at Peace Lutheran...

Merlin C. Pfeifer

Merlin C. Pfeifer

Feb 1, 2026

Merlin C. Pfeifer, 68, a local businessman for many years, passed away on Sunday evening, February 1, 2026, at Golden Acres Manor, Carrington ND.

Funeral Services for Merlin will be on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake with his brother-in-law Ken Kirchenwitz officiating. Burial will be in the spring at the Meldahl Cemetery,...

Mark A. Schwab

Mark A. Schwab

Jan 30, 2026

Mark A. Schwab, a lifelong resident of Devils Lake ND passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation for Mark will be on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary led by the Knights of Columbus and...

Lillie Owlboy

Lillie Owlboy

Jan 29, 2026

Lillie Owlboy of rural St. Michael, ND began her journey to the Spirit World on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND. She was 89 years old.

PLEASE NOTE: PROCESSION AT 3:00 P.M. ON SUNDAY.  

The visitation time on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at St. Michael's Catholic Church is for immediate family only. The procession to St. Michael...

Brian Scott Sailor

Brian Scott Sailor

Jan 27, 2026

Brian Scott Sailor

1958 – 2026

Brian Sailor, age 67, passed away January 27, 2026 in Devils Lake, ND

Brian was born May 27th, 1958 in Devils Lake, ND to parents Ray & Phyliss (Tofsrud) Sailor. Brian attended school in Devils Lake. Brian spent many years working for Ray’s Painting Service, Devils Lake, 20 plus years working for Leben Masonry, Devils Lake and...

Merlyn Norman Knutson III

Merlyn Norman Knutson III

Jan 24, 2026

Merlyn Norman Knutson III

October 24, 1986 ~ January 24, 2026

“Waohoda Mani”

(Walks With Respect)

Merlyn Norman Knutson III, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Trinity Medical Center, Minot, ND with loving family at his side. He was 39.

The Wake will be held at St. Michael's Wellness Center on Sunday, February 1, 2026 beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a time of...

Michael Elwood Thomason

Michael Elwood Thomason

Jan 23, 2026

Michael E. Thomason, of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Friday, January 23, 2026 at CHI, St. Alexius Health, Devils Lake Hospital at the age of 78 years.

Funeral Services for Mike will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel, Devils Lake with Reverend Dayne Zachrison officiating. Burial with Military Honors will...

Anna Marie Two Hearts

Anna Marie Two Hearts

Jan 22, 2026

Anna Marie Two Hearts “Wičhaŋĥpi Tipi Wiŋ” (Star Lodge Woman)

Anna Marie Two Hearts made her journey to the Spirit World on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Essentia Medical Center in Fargo ND.

The Wake for Anna will be on Monday, February 2, 2026 at the Fort Totten Recreation Center beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at...

Sonja A. Clemenson

Sonja A. Clemenson

Jan 20, 2026

Sonja (Byberg) Clemenson

Sonja Ann Clemenson, 90 of Devils Lake, N.D., passed away on Tuesday January 20, 2026 at Eventide in Fargo, N.D. surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services for Sonja will be held Thursday, February 5 at 11 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Rev. Lori Pankratz will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation on...

Melbourne Arthur Brown

Melbourne Arthur Brown

Jan 19, 2026

Melbourne “Mel” A. Brown, 79 of Colorado passed away on January 19, 2026 at the Aurora Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado.

Melbourne Arthur, son of Andrew and Charlotte Brown was born on December 3, 1946 in Plant City, Florida. He attended school in Lithia, Florida, graduating from Pinecrest High School.

Mel married his precious JoAnn Nahinurk on November 14, 1970 in Devils...

KassaLee Jo Redroad

KassaLee Jo Redroad

Jan 18, 2026

KassaLee Jo, daughter of Kelly Redroad and Bruce Touche was born on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 in Devils Lake ND. She grew up on the Spirit Lake Nation in the Tokio area. She attended Warwick Public School and earned her GED at Little Hoop Community College in Fort Totten.

She enjoyed playing online video games and was the ultimate animal lover....