Opal Mattson

Opal Mattson, age 88, passed away December 21st, 2021, at Western Reserve Hospital from Covid complications. Loved by many, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton; her 2 sons, Gilbert and Gregory; her parents, Arnold and Margaret Hoselton; and sister, Phyllis Rolette.

Donald Parker

Donald W. Parker, 72, transitioned to Heaven on Saturday, December 11, 2021. Don was born in Grafton, North Dakota to Wesley and Dorothy (Siewert) Parker. He grew up in Drayton, completed his education there, and then entered the Marines.

Emma Bennett

Emma M. Bennett, 72, of Walhalla, ND passed away Friday, December 3, 2021 at her home. Funeral service will be held Friday, December 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Walhalla Lutheran Church, Walhalla, ND. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 9th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the church.

Roger Mattson

Roger A. Mattson, age 83 of rural Drayton, ND passed away on Sunday, October 31, 2021 at the Unity Hospital of Grafton, ND. Roger A. Mattson was born June 27, 1938 near Drayton, ND the son of the late Gilbert and Agnes (Nelson) Mattson.

James Evenson

James (Jim) O. Evenson, 90, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2021 in his home in Alexandria, MN after a short battle with lung cancer. James was born on May 28, 1931 to Oscar and Marjorie (Long) Evenson in Drayton, ND where he attended school.

Butch Cox

Butch (Harold Edward) Cox, 77, lifelong resident of Grafton, ND died on Monday, October 18, 2021 in the comfort of his home under the care of his loving staff at the Friendship Group Home of Grafton and the Red River Valley Hospice due to complications from Dementia.

Rodney Puppe

Rodney Alan Puppe, 63, a lifelong Drayton, North Dakota resident passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, October 8th, 2021. Rodney was born in Grafton, ND on October 24th, 1957, the son of Willis and Bonnie (Harlow) Puppe. Rodney was baptized in the Lutheran faith.

Paul Kemp

Paul Willis Kemp, age 69 of Drayton, ND, passed away Monday, September 13, 2021 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Funeral services are planned for May 2022 to celebrate what would have been Paul’s 70th Birthday.

Curtis Parker

Curtis Parker, 70, a lifelong Drayton, North Dakota resident passed away at Unity Hospital in Grafton, North Dakota on Saturday, September 4, 2021. Curtis was born April 20, 1951 in Drayton, the son of Wesley and Dorothy (Siewert) Parker.

Pastor Leroy’s Column

Esther was queen to King Ahasuerus when the Medo-Persian Empire ruled the territory from India in the east to Ethiopia in the west. For her or any person to come into the presence of the King she/they had to have been summoned by the king.