Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271913
Title: Todd P. Hafner
Date: 6/2/1967-10/3/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 6/2/1967
Summary: In the early morning hours of October 3, 2025, Todd, age 58, of Sykeston, ND, left this earthly life and joined the chorus of the next. A Mass of Christian burial was held October 10, 2025, at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, Sykeston. Todd Patrick Hafner was born to Gary and Gloria (Kautzman) Hafner on June 2, 1967 in Harvey, ND. He spent all of his life on the family farm near Sykeston. Todd graduated from Sykeston High School in 1985, and excelled in sarcasm. He liked a fast car and good times with friends, but he always prioritized the farm to make sure crops and animals were tended. The love of Todd’s life was Melissa Willey. Their fondness for each other dates back to their grade school days. Todd seldom missed sending Missy flowers over the years to celebrate their relationship, with the most recent being a beautiful bouquet for their 39th wedding anniversary. They were married at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Sykeston on August 29, 1986. Life and love brought them three wonderful sons, Nicolas (Hilary), Fargo, ND, Devan (Ashley), Jamestown, ND, Jesse, Carrington, ND. A country life filled with camping, hunting, and fishing kept Todd’s heart full. The most recent joy in Todd’s life was changing his title to “Papa” when he became a grandfather to Bryson (Devan and Ashley). It brought an extra sparkle to his eye! From a young age, Todd had a profound love of music. Mastering lead guitar, along with a warm, sweet voice, some of his proudest accomplishments were being a part of two popular local bands, StaJa and Alittle Untamed. Many friendships were made across the state, playing on stages large and small. In recent years, Todd stepped onto a few Nashville stages, instantly drawing a crowd in the door. These were such memorable moments, and he felt he had fulfilled a dream that would have made his Dad so proud. Todd never lost his love for playing guitar and always longed for those band days. Many band stories and music selections were shared by Todd around the campfire. When times shifted from farming and ranching to exploring new passions, Todd started working at Cannon Technologies in Carrington in 2002 as a meter technician. In 2008, he transitioned into a senior IT technician position at Northern Plains Electric Cooperative. There he expanded his specialty to journeyman meterman with an apprenticeship program through BSC. Todd is survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, and a grandson; his mother, Gloria Hafner; sister, Tammy (Mike) Stevens; sisters-in-law, Cindy (Bill) Willey/Ockert, Kathy (Kyle) Beach; brother-in-law, Joel (RoxAnn) Willey; and many nieces and nephews. Todd was preceded in death by his father, Gary Hafner; father- and mother-in-law, Donald and Alice Willey; grandparents, Joe and Margie Hafner, Innocent and Fawn Kautzman; and brother-in-law, Andrew Willey.
Red ID: FND_I_79407 Image ID: 539224 Image Notes: FND001 271913

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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