Gordon Levang
Gordon Levang, 98, of Watford City, N.D., died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Watford City.
Gordon Volden Levang was born June 11, 1918, to Knute and Olena Levang at their farm house east of Johnson Corners. Gordon was the fifth of eight children.
Gordon began his schooling at Sandstone School and later attended Veeder School.
After completing his elementary school years, he spent the next two years attending Williams School, about five miles from the family farm.
His methods of transportation to school during those first ten years of his schooling included riding in an open Model T car with a neighboring family and riding a horse. When the weather did not allow such means of travel, he spent some time staying with a family who lived close to the school or living in a “shack” on the school grounds. When he was a junior in high school he moved with his family to Sanish, N.D., where he attended school.
Before his last year in high school, his parents had moved back to the farm, but Gordon chose to stay in Sanish to complete his high school education. During that year he worked at a gas station in exchange for his room and board.
After graduating from Sanish High School in 1936, he returned to the family farm, doing farm work for a neighbor for two summers. During one of the winters, he also worked at Larson’s Grocery Store in Keene, N.D. He then joined his parents in their farming and ranching operation.
On Nov. 20, 1942, Gordon married Jessie Vildmo in Sidney, Mon. They set up their home near Gordon’s childhood home, where they farmed and ranched.
In 1958, Gordon and Jessie built a home in Watford City so their children could attend school there.
After their children had graduated from high school, they spent many winters in Arizona, returning to their North Dakota farm home during the summers. They later moved to Watford City to live in the house which Jessie had lived in as a young girl and which Gordon had remodeled years later.
After Jessie’s death in 2005, Gordon continued living in his Watford City home until he entered the Good Shepherd Home in Watford City in Jan. of 2015.
Gordon was an active community member, serving on the boards of the Faith Lutheran Church of Keene, the Watford City First Lutheran Church, Grail Township, Co-op Supply Lumber Company, and Keene Independent Oil Company. He was also a supervisor for the Arnegard-Alexander Soil Conservation District and served as a McKenzie County commissioner for two terms.
Gordon enjoyed woodworking and spent many hours in his shop helping his grandchildren with their 4-H woodworking projects and then building them each a roll-top desk or china cabinet. He also furnished their home with many pieces of furniture which he made.
He was preceded in death by his wife; daughter, Karen; parents; five brothers, Melvin, Telford, Clifford, Carmen, and Duane; one sister, Gladys Rau; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gordon is survived by his son, Gary Levang and his wife Patsy of Keene, N.D.; his daughter, Sharon Anderson and her husband Skip of Watford City, N.D.; grandchildren, Chad Levang and his wife Adri of Montgomery, Texas; Rhaegn Sitzman and her husband Mike of Bismarck, N.D.; Margo Knorr and her husband Steve of Minot, N.D.; Darren Anderson of Watford City, N.D.; Drew Anderson and his wife Kayla of Lemmon, S.D.; grandchildren, Kaden, Genin, Sophia, and Asher Levang; Collin, Camrynn, and Katelynn Knorr; Jenna Anderson; and Sadie and Emmie Anderson; sister, Grace Allex of Watford City, N.D.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, at Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home.
His funeral service was at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, Cross Point Church Watford City. Rev. Adrian Timmons officiated; burial followed in Schafer Cemetery, Watford City.
Gordon’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted with Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Watford City. Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com