The Bismarck Tribune from Bismarck, North Dakota • 9

Bismarcktribune.com Bismarck Tribune Thursday, February 24, 201 1 Page 9A Edward Lahr Edward Valentine Lahr entered into eternal rest at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center on Feb. 22, 201 1, after 97 full years of life. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at First Presbyterian Church, 214 E.

Thayer Bismarck, with the Rev. Jake Kincaid officiating. Cremation has taken place and burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, O'Callaghan, Fargo; two sons, Allen (Elaine), Omaha, and Larry (Marilyn), Fargo; his brother, James O'Callaghan, Des Moines, Iowa; his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren, Tara (Chad) Kalal and Harper and Luca, St. Petersburg, Brennon (Shelly) O'Callaghan and Elizabeth and Devon Garry, Maple Grove, and Ryan (Casey) O'Callaghan and Caelan, Starlyn (Joshua) Green and Adella, and Keenan O'Callaghan, all of Bozeman, Mont. Garry is also survived by his step-grandchildrengreat-grandchildren (Nelson), Heidi (Vince) Williams and Brooklyn, Fargo, Joshua (Jill) Nelson and Chloe, Talia, Bray-den and Aubree, Fergus Falls, and Cody (Michelle) Nelson and Camry and Carter, Casselton; and many very special nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Garry and Eliza (Clark) O'Callaghan and his first wife, Frieda Pauline (Grenz) O'Callaghan, who passed away in 1980. Marlys Harr PETTIBONE Marlys Mary Harr, 59, Pettibone, was called home to God on Feb. 21,2011. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb.

26, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Pettibone, with the Rev. Howard Lyons officiating. Spring burial will be at Petersville Cemetery, Pettibone. dergaard, Highland Ranch, and Cindy (Luke) Kanies, Portland, and his great-grandchildren, Peyton Lahr, Hailey Lahr, Tyler Sondergaard, Lillian Kanies and Vivian Kanies. Ed felt fortunate to have a second family and so enjoyed all of their family gatherings; he also leaves behind, Erna's children, Betty Lou Dachtler, Jennifer (Lon) Romsaas, David (Jan) Martel and Rebecca Martel (Alan Cooper); Erna's grandchildren, Dennette (Wayne) Stotz, Gwen Jones, Erna Flint, Kirk (Carol) Romsaas and Jodi Loucks; and Erna's great-grandchildren, Christopher Amble, Brooklyn Zenker, Elizabeth Guen-ther and Reed Romsaas and great-great-grandson, Wyatt Steele.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lillian; his parents; his sister, Marlys May McGettigan; his brother-in-law, Ray McGettigan; and his nephew, Mike McGettigan. The family prefers memorials be given to the Medcenter One College of Nursing Lillian Weber Lahr Scholarship at the Medcenter One Foundation and the North Dakota State Historical Society. Go to www.eastgatefu-neral.com to share memories of Ed and sign the online guest book. Eugene Kaelberer NEW SALEM Eugene Kaelberer, 90, New Salem, died Feb. 21, 2011, at his home.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at Bethel United Church of Christ, south of New Salem. Burial will be at Bethel Cemetery when weather permits. DEATHS Signa Nelson FARGO Signa Christina Nelson passed away peacefully at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, on Feb.

18, 2011, with her daughter, Elaine, at her side at the age of 100 years and four months. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at First Lutheran Church, Rugby. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Signa Nelson Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday at the church in Rugby. Signa was born Oct. 19, 1910, on the family farm in Rush Lake Township, Pierce County, to Anton (Bjerkeha-gen) and Martha (Solberg) Johnson. She attended the Rush Lake Country School and graduated fromWolford High School in 1930.

She was a graduate of Minot State Teachers College. She taught school for 40 years in schools in Benson and Pierce counties. Signa loved children. Teaching was in her "blood." She taught in country schools and would have to fire up the stove. As she would say, "Those were the days," when you had to walk to school.

She enjoyed presenting her Christmas school programs and basket socials that the country schools were special to have. Signa married Oscar B. Nelson on June 30, 1949, in Leeds. Oscar passed away Jan. 19, 1999.

Signa was raised on the family farm near Wolford. She was especially fond of animals; horses, cows and even the pigs were special. The family dog was her best friend. She and the dog would go and get the cows. Signa, while on the farm, would milk 20 cows before getting ready for school.

Then, of course, there were the times of cooking in the Cook-Car. Getting the meals ready, baking pies. Like she said, "Those were the days." She related the story of when her dad brought home an ornery cow that no one could get close enough to milk. She told her dad she could milk the cow. She sat and talked to the cow in a gentle voice and soon she was milking the cow to everyone's astonishment.

She had been a member of Wolford Lutheran Church until her marriage. She then joined the Knox Lutheran Church. She was active in the Ladies Aid and teaching Sunday school. She and her husband, Oscar, gave the "gift" of faith to their daughter, Elaine. She was a current member of First Lutheran Church and the WELCA.

In 1979, she and Oscar enjoyed living with Elaine at their apartment at Country Road. They enjoyed the special Birthday Club group. In 1992, they purchased their town home which she really enjoyed. She enjoyed visits from former students and relatives and friends from far and near. The last two years, she and Elaine have enjoyed their "apartment" at One Oak Place, where they met new friends.

She and Elaine enjoyed their many trips to and from Rugby and Fargo. She would recite poetry, talk about memories of teaching, recite Norwegian reading, never sleeping. On their last trip, they made a stop in Grand Forks to purchase new shoes. She said, "Time for a can of pop!" Precious memories, how they linger. She would also say on their travels, "Do you think I will make my 100th birthday?" She had a goal and she had two great birthday parties with several former students and relatives and friends that attended.

Signa was a "Golden Member" of 42 years of membership in Rugby Odin Sons of Norway 4-087. She held several offices and enjoyed presenting pro-, grams for youth and adult members. She formed the "choir" for the 100th anniversary. She attended several Sons of Norway Garry O'Callaghan FARGO Garry O'Callaghan 92, died Feb. 22, 2011, with his loving wife and family by his side at Edgewood Vista Retirement Home, Fargo.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Bismarck. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck.

Garry O'Callaghan Visitation will be held from 1 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Garry was born Sept. 6, 1918, at the family ranch in Buchanan Valley Township in Emmons County (Hazel-ton).

Garry, the eldest son of Garret and Eliza (Clark) O'Callaghan, and his brother, James, felt privileged to grow up in the "beautiful wide open spaces of North Dakota." He was raised on their "pioneer farm" as his father and grandfathers were original homesteaders. On July 27, 1941, Garry married Frieda Pauline Grenz and they raised two sons, Allen and Larry, on the family ranch northwest of Hazelton, where they farmed from 1945 to 1984. Garry was an active member of the American Legion, VFW, Masonic Lodge and Elks; president and member of the Hazelton School Board; and a member of the Hazelton Presbyterian Church. He was one of the first farmers to introduce irrigation to the Emmons County area, and was a founding member of the Missouri Slope Irrigation Development Association. Frieda died from a farm machinery accident in 1980.

They were truly farming partners; she provided a great amount of help with Garry. Through mutual friends, Garry met Mabel (Nordine) Hedstrom and on Feb. 4, 1984, they married. They enjoyed traveling and spent many winters together in New Mexico and Arizona. When residing in Bismarck, Garry and Mabel welcomed family and friends into their home and enjoyed gardening together.

In their early years, dancing was an enjoyment they shared. He was also engaged in many wood working projects, building tables, wall hangings, clocks and numerous other items. In 2007, they moved to Fargo to be nearer to family. Both Garry and Mabel enjoyed watching the Weather Channel and were always conversing on a day-to-day basis about what they were hearing in the news. In Garry's last hours, Mabel was the devoted and loving caregiver that she was in their 27 years of marriage.

In Garry's later years, he became computer savvy and spent many hours at his desk documenting his life stories with words and pictures. In 1996, he published his memoirs, "A Pioneer's Son A Country Boy's Life." As a proud veteran, Garry left poignant memoirs in his publication, "Memoirs of Garry O'Callaghan: My 1,462 Days in World War II." Both were written with love and are wonderful gifts to his family! Garry hated war but was very proud to have served his country. He loved his family and will be missed by all that knew him. Garry's military service was from Sept. 24, 1941 to Oct.

12, 1945 with rank of private first class, tech5, corporal. He served in World War II, Army, Japanese Southeast Asia Theater, Artillery, Forward Observer, Okinawa, 97 days combat. He received Service Awards for Good conduct medal, expert shooter, Asiatic Pacific medals with star, seven gold overseas bars, with 116 combat days. Garry is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mabel fjf International and District Conventions. She made three trips to Norway to visit relatives.

The last trip was her 90th birthday celebration. Signa was proud of her Norwegian heritage, which she passed to her daughter, Elaine. Signa spoke the Norwegian language well. She did translating from Norsk to English. She, by memory, said in Norwegian a "piece" that she said when she was 5 years old.

She knew that piece to the end of her life. Signa was a life member of 61 years of American Legion Auxiliary. She held several offices. She was also a member of Past President Parley. She was a current member of Knox Community Cemetery Board.

She served on the Benson County Social Service Board for several years. She was the last survivor of Rugby Modern Homemakers. Signa wrote the "Knox News" for Benson County Farmers Press and Pierce County Tribune for 32 years. She retired at the age of 87. She remembered, as a child, going with her parents to Devils Lake to see President Franklin Roosevelt.

She loved to travel and, yes, even in airplanes. She said she had been blessed in her life to have good health and good memory. One birthday after another and then it was the Big One 100th. "Uffda," she said. Signa is survived by her daughter, Elaine, Rugby and Fargo; her niece, Gloria Shjerve, Mandan; her great-nephews, Rick and Greg Fox; her great-nieces, Janelle Johnson, Julie Fox, Tanya Lashman and Denise Allee; and other relatives and friends.

All of her former students were very grand to her. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Oscar; her siblings, Minnie, Anna, John and Christ Johnson; her niece, Janice Fox; her nephews, Gary and Gordon Johnson; and other relatives and friends. Memorials are preferred to Sons of Norway Foundation of Minneapolis or North Dakota Veterans Cemetery at Mandan. Please feel free to sign the online guest book at www.hansonrunsvold.com. (Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo) Harlan Hanson W.

WILDROSE Ipslk Harlan Hanson, 74, Wildrose, died Feb. 20, 2011, at Tioga Medical Center of cancer. Memorial services are pending. Survivors include his sister, Virginia Sillerud, Wildrose; his brother, Russ, Fort Wayne, his daughters, Summer Dardis, Salem, and Michelle Hanson, Eugene, his sons, Michael, Gresham, Jeffrey, Rathdrum, Idaho, and Greg, Post Falls, Idaho; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. (Fulk-erson Funeral Home, Tioga) Alma Desizlets Alma B.

Desizlets, 97, formerly of Bismarck, died Feb. 21, 2011, at Mapleton Community Home, Mapleton, Minn. Services will be held at 1 1 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at Mankato Mortuary, Manka-to, Minn.

Burial will be held in Woodland Hills Memorial Park, Mankato. She is survived by her son, Rod, Estes Park, two daughters, Donna James, Sun Lakes, and Bonnie Kourajian, Prior Lake, six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Pauline Deutscher JAMESTOWN Pauline Deutscher, 101, Jamestown, formerly of Medina, died Feb. 22, 2011. Services will be held at 2 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 28, at Zion United Church of Christ, Medina. Burial will be in Medina Cemetery. She is survived by one son, David, Medina; one granddaughter; and three sisters, Hildegard Brost, Crookston, Emma Bogus, Seattle, and Florence Eissinger, White Bear Lake, Minn. (Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown) Edward Lahr A gathering with family will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.

today at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Ed was born Aug. 23, 1913, in Ellsworth, to Edward and Grace Whaylen Lahr. In 1915, his family moved to Bismarck. He was raised and educated in Bismarck, graduating from Bismarck High School.

He attended the University of North Dakota for one year and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1934. He returned to Bismarck in 1937 and worked in the family business. He later bought Lahr Lahr Insurance and founded Lahr Lahr Real Estate. Ed's 40-year career in the insurance business also earned him statewide recognition. He, met Lillian Weber through his good friend, John Hjelle.

After a short courtship they were married Aug. 11, 1939. They had two children, Gary Edward and Kathleen Ann. Lillian and Ed enjoyed 51 wonderful years together in Bismarck, later wintering in Mesa, and enjoying summers at Leech Lake in Minnesota. Lillian passed away on March 11, 1991.

Ed volunteered at the Heritage Center, where he met Erna Martel Cartwright. They were married on Nov. 18, 1994. In their short 16 years together, Ed and Erna traveled extensively including trips to Alaska, Nova Scotia and Jamaica, where they just had to go parasailing at the young age of 87. In 1997, he earned the Volunteer of the Week Award from the Heritage Center.

Of course, he was the perfect Heritage Center volunteer, always promoting Bismarck and his state of North Dakota. Ed was active in community affairs serving as president of the Kiwanis, Bismarck Jaycees and Chamber of Commerce. He was a lifetime member of Bismarck Elks Lodge No. 1 199, Masonic Bodies, Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, Shrine and Potentate of El Zagel Temple. He was a charter member of Apple Creek Country Club.

Ed served on the Bismarck Hospital Board as president for 20 years and was an active board member of Medcenter One Health Systems for over 45 years. In 2004, Ed was awarded the distinguished Medcenter One Robert H. Lundberg Award. He was the mayor of the city of Bismarck for eight years and served as treasurer in the Republican Party Headquarters. In regard to politics, "I voted Republican all my life, except once when I voted -for Franklin Roosevelt had a real long talk with my Dad, and ever since I have voted Republican." He also served on the board of trustees and sessions as an active member of the Presbyterian Church.

Throughout his life, Ed treasured his family and the reunions with his nieces and nephews. The Bismarck community, his friends and family, will miss him greatly! Mostly, he will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, his wise counsel and his leadership. Edward Valentine Lahr is survived by his wife, Erna, Bismarck; his son, Gary (Patricia) Lahr, Bismarck; his daughter, Kathleen (William) Ellig, Portland, his grandchildren, Richard (Bonnie) Lahr, Bismarck, Heather (Derek) Son- Marlys Harr Visitation will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown, where a prayer service begins at 7 p.m. Marlys Guthmiller was born April 5, 1951, in Jamestown, to Rudolph and Freida (Schmidt) Guthmiller.

She graduated from Pettibone Public School in 1969. Marlys then adventured to Bismarck, where she attended the Capital Commercial College and received a diploma in modern office training. She married Martin Harr on Dec. 19, 1969. They lived in Lake Williams and Pettibone, where they raised their five children.

Marlys was always busy in the fall canning and pickling everything that came out of their big garden. Marlys also enjoyed cooking, baking, collecting salt and pepper shakers and Elvis memorabilia. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and her family and friends. Over the years, she has touched many people with her kind smile and witty sense of humor. She was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Marlys was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran church in Pettibone. Marlys is survived by her husband, Martin Harr, Pettibone; three daughters, Twila Kamlitz, Jamestown, Tiffany Harr, Pettibone, and Lisa (Isaac) Olson, Medina; two sons, Mark Harr, Jamestown, and Jeffrey (Tera) Harr, Steele; 12 grandchildren; 16 nephews and nieces; one brother, Eugene (Charlene) Guthmiller, Pettibone; and one sister, Connie (Todd) Schlafman, Wilton. Marlys was preceded in death by her mother and father, Rudolph and Freida Guthmiller; two brothers, Earl and Raymond Guthmiller; one nephew, Ryan Wolf; and one grandson, Tyler Harr. Visit the online guest book: www.eddyfuneral-home.com. Joseph Weber ALEXANDER Joseph Weber, 79, Alexander, died Feb.

23, 2011, at his home. Arrangements are pending with Fulkerson Funeral Home.Williston. (More deaths, funerals today and state deaths on 3A.) Eugene Kaelberer There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Eugene was born Aug.

8, 1920, on the family farm south of New Salem, the oldest son of Christ and Gertrude (Werchau) Kaelberer. He was raised and educated in the area and married Ruth Held on June 18, 1943, at her parents' home. Eugene and Ruth made their home, farmed together and raised their daughters in the Bethel community. They moved into New Salem 10 years ago. Farming was Eugene's passion and he was happiest when working in his fields and tending to his cattle.

He is survived by two daughters, Corrie (Delbert) Bumann, New Salem, and Renelle Branson, Dulzura, two grandchildren, Karla Bumann and Ryan (Regina) Bumann; his great-grandson, Charlie Bumann; his brothers, Chester (June) and Chris (Carol), all of New Salem; his sister, Marian Berger, Belfield; his sister-in-law, Jeanette Kaelberer, New Salem; and many nieces and nephews. Eugene was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 67 years, Ruth, who passed away Sept. 2, 2010; his brother, Arnold; his sister, Delores Kinnischtzke and her husband, Ernest; his-brother-in-law, Casper Berger; and his son-in-law, Dave Braunlich. Go to www.buehlerlar-son.com to sign the online guest book. (Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan) Robert Laughlin Robert D.

"Bob" Laughlin, 72, formerly of Wilton, died Feb. 18, 2011, at Wyoming Medical Center, Casper, following a battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. MST Saturday, Feb. 26, at Walker Funeral Home, Gillette, Wyo.

He is survived by his mother, Olga; his wife, Sonja; brothers, William and Rodney; his sister, Norma Hochhalter; his daughters, Tammy Tromble and Belinda Howery; his son, Michael; and seven grandchildren. Ms 1 4. i i.