Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272000
Title: Ara I. Hartsoch
Date: 2/23/1925-1/9/2026
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 2/23/1925
Summary: Ara I. Hartsoch passed away at the age of 100 on January 9, 2026. Her funeral service was held January 17, 2026, at the Beaver Creek Lutheran Church in Tioga, ND, with Pastor Jon Wellumson officiating. Burial was at the Beaver Creek Cemetery in Tioga. Ara Iola Hartsoch was born February 23, 1925, in a shed called “the laundry room” behind her grandparents’ house south of Tioga and just north of the Beaver Creek Church attended by midwife, Mrs. Stockman. Her parents were Lloyd and Olga (Strand) Hartsoch. Ara was their first born and a couple years later brother Arvey came and a few years later Rose Marie (Marie) joined the family. They moved to different farmsteads in the Ray and Tioga area. Her first Sunday School program was at Bethany Church south of Tioga area. Ara graduated from Ray High School in 1944 and was employed by the Ray Bank after graduation. On August 4, 1945, she married the love of her life, Earl Lincoln Hartsoch. She never did change her name! After Earl was discharged from the Army, they settled in the Nesson Valley to farm and ranch. In 1960s they built a new house a few miles south of the Kota Ray Dam. They were blessed with their family of three, Maureen, Arley and Deborah. Throughout the years they also were blessed with many foster children with Dennis Marmon being the one living with them the longest and becoming like a son and brother. Ara was a wonderful cook and baker. She baked her wheat and sourdough bread, Juneberry pies and cookies for Lund’s Landing for years and also for many neighbors. She excelled in sewing, crocheting and quilting. She said she wished she had kept a count of the loaves, pies, buns and quilts she had made! They attended the Beaver Creek Lutheran Church all their years. She was the church treasurer for many years as well as being a member of Ladies Aid and an officer. She was active gardener throughout her life. She helped in a big garden sale with neighbor ladies for several years in her later years. She enjoyed dressing up as Miss Abigail from Zap, ND. If you missed seeing that, you missed a very fun entertaining time! Throughout her life she loved the Lord and people. Always content, grateful, and patient. The Lord carried her through many sicknesses; an aneurysm, lymphoma and congestive heart failure; however, the Lord blessed her with a long life of almost 101 years! Ara really enjoyed her 100-year birthday celebration and was hoping to make it 101 years. She lost Earl after 59 years of marriage. Ara entered the Tioga LTC almost eight years ago. She was so thankful for all the loving care received there. She continued crocheting for most of those years making her hand towels and visiting the staff and residents and visitors. She leaves behind daughters, Maureen (Larry) Severson of Roseau, MN, and Debbie (Jim) Jacob of Burns, WY; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Hartsoch of Ray, ND; foster son, Dennis (Patsy) Marmon of Williston, ND; grandchildren, Laureen (Steve) Byron, Royce Severson, Kent (Alicia) Severson, Heidi (Dan) Hernandez, Brent Hartsoch, Sara (Jason) Peterson, Daniel (Amanda) Hartsoch, Erik (Amy) Hartsoch, James (Veronica) Jacob, Paul (Megan) Jacob, Michael (Bonnie) Jacob and Kevin (Colleen) Jacob; 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great- grandchildren; brother-in-law, Jack (Doris) Hartsoch; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding Ara in death was her beloved husband, Earl; parents, Lloyd and Olga; son, Arley; brother, Arvey and Iona Hartsoch; sister, Marie and Wayne Vance; in-laws, Alice and Herman Hartsoch; brother-in-law, Derald Hartoch; nephew, Craig Hartsoch; niece, Arlene Kingstad; and great-niece, Laurie Hartsoch.
Red ID: FND_I_79495 Image ID: 547532 Image Notes: FND001 272000

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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