Iva Lagasse
Heaven gained another angel when He called Iva Ann Carlson Cross Lagasse home on April 13, 2023.
The youngest of five, Ann was born Oct. 11, 1935, in Richey, Mont., to Pete and Rosa Carlson. She fondly recalled her childhood playing ball with her brother, Carl, helping tend the boarding house, and riding the Galloping Goose Railway with friends.
Ann attended St. Paul Bible College before returning to Sidney where she worked as a telephone operator making life-long friends and hosting reunions up until 2019.
The sport of bowling helped Ann and Ralph Cross’s paths to meet, and her “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” days came to an end. It didn’t take long before they were married and moved to the family farm. To this union, RaeAnn and Rodney were born. Ralph passed away after 25 years of marriage in 1992.
In 1997, much to Ann’s delight, the first of her four grandchildren were born. They were the apple of her eye and she did not pass up an opportunity to care for them, send packages, be at a birthday party or wait patiently at the top of her stairs for a ride to their sporting event.
Ann’s traveling days began again when in 2000, she wed Lyle Lagasse and moved to Colorado Springs. Lyle and Ann enjoyed nine years on the go. She quickly became part of Lyle’s church community, established many wonderful friendships and encouraged multiple trips back to Montana and North Dakota to see their grandchildren.
Grass did not grow under Ann’s feet from early on in her life to her very last days. She was blessed with nieces and nephews of all ages who enjoyed taking her on multiple adventures from Washington State to Washington D.C., Alaska to Oklahoma, and even Sweden, the birthplace of her father. She lived life to its fullest as is reflected in her closet full of neatly categorized pictures.
Ann is survived by her children, RaeAnn and Wayne Gransbery of Columbus, Mont., and Rod and Leah Cross of Alexander, N.D.; grandchildren, Thomas Gransbery of Bozeman, Mont., and Renee, Shane and Julian Cross of Alexander; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Ralph Cross and Lyle Lagasse; her parents, Pete and Rosa Carlson; her siblings, Marie (Melvin) Hagele, Nellie (John) Bettis, Ikie (Jasper) Larson, and Carl (Janis) Carlson; and brothers-in-law, Elmo (Jo) Cross, John (Louise) Cross, and Morris (Dorothy) Cross.
The last of a generation within our family and neighborhood, Ann, will be truly missed.
Funeral services for Iva “Ann” Cross Lagasse, 87, of Sidney, were held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 21, 2023, at the Faith Alliance Church, Sidney, Mont., Pastor Paul Turek officiated. Visitation was held Thursday, April 20, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour before services at the church. Interment took place at the Highland Cemetery, Alexander, N.D., Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.