Obituaries

David Robert Raney, age 79, of Minneapolis, Minnesota (formerly of Drayton, North Dakota; Alexandria, Minnesota; and Carlos, Minnesota) passed away on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 after a long illness.

Samuel Wayne Bill, also known as “Wayne” or “Wink”, age 76, of Hamilton, North Dakota, passed away in Hamilton on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, at his son’s home. Funeral services were held on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Cavalier Evangelical Free Church. Visitation was held from 9:30 until the time of the service at the church.

Paul Anderson Ness, 88, was born on July 5, 1935, in Drayton and passed away on Oct. 9, 2023, at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks.

Elaine Westling, 88, of Robbin, Minnesota passed away at her son's home in Grand Forks on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Elaine Elsie Law was born April 6, 1935 in Beltrami, Minnesota to Eli and Lyda (Wehmhoefer) Law. She was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Beltrami and grew up on the family farm in Reis Township. Elaine's education began in a country school and the Beltrami School through the 8th grade. She then attended the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, where she received her high school diploma in 1953.

Laurene T. Barrow, age 62, resident of Grand Forks, died on Friday, Sept.

Oliver Walter “Bud” Hills, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, died on Sept. 22, 2023, at the age of 89.

Frances B. Sather, age 84 of Grafton, North Dakota, passed away Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at her home in Grafton. Frances Beverly Martineau was born Oct. 11, 1938 in Pembina, North Dakota, born the ninth child of 13 to the late Lorenzo and Margaret (Wills) Martineau. She attended rural country school and high school in Pembina. She grew up on the family farm until moving to Grafton. She worked at the Ben Franklin Store and Associated Potato Growers. Frances was united in marriage to Larry Mattson in May of 1960 in Grafton, North Dakota. The couple made their home in Grafton where they raised their two children, Loren and Lorie. Frances was united in marriage to Wesley Sather in July of 1987 in Watertown, South Dakota. The couple made their home on Wesley’s farm near Grafton. Wesley passed away June 9, 2009.

Ronald L. Helm, age 77 of Drayton, passed away Monday, Sept.

Patricia Kay Osowski, 70, of Stephen, Minnesota passed away Aug. 29 due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident near Stephen. Patty was born to John “Jack” McGuire and Bernice (Vary) McGuire on May 11, 1953. She was raised on the family farm near Oslo and graduated from Oslo High School in 1971. Patty met the love of her life Robert J. Osowski and they wed on Nov. 12, 1973. They settled on a farm near Argyle until Robert’s work relocated them to Drayton, North Dakota.

Nicole Marie Brown of Drayton, North Dakota passed away at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks after enduring a motorcycle accident on Aug. 26, 2023. Nicole was born on Sept. 25, 1978 in Grafton, North Dakota to Peter and Bonnie (Woinarowicz) Brown of Drayton. She was a happy and energetic child that loved riding her bike, playing with friends, and playing trucks with her big brother Nathanial. Summer weekends at Lake of the Woods and Christmas in Hawaii were always welcomed events. Nicole attended Drayton Public School and graduated in 1997. She continued her education at Northland Community College in East Grand Forks, Minnesota for Secretary Training. She had a few different jobs over the years including working at Kelly’s Country Market in high school, at Marvin Windows, UPS, and Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort after college, and most recently as a bartender at the Zoo Too Bar.