Edward LeRoy Retzer of Crosby, North Dakota | 1943 - 2023 | Obituary

Edward LeRoy Retzer

(Ed) passed away May 3, 2023 at the Halstad Nursing Home, Halstad Minnesota.

Prayer service will be held Wednesday May 17 at 5:00 p.m. at the Stakston-Martin Funeral Home, Crosby ND. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday May 18 at Concordia Lutheran Church, Crosby ND. Pastor Zach Shipman will officiate the service. Arrangements entrusted to Stakson-Martin Funeral Home of Crosby, ND.

Ed was born March 23,1943 in Moorhead to John and Helen (Billing) Retzer.

He attended Eldridge elementary school and graduated in 1961 from Jamestown High School where he was involved in band and orchestra. He gained the nickname “Smiley” because he was always smiling.

He went on to earn his degrees in music and english at Valley City State Teachers College graduating in 1965. He taught music and english in Gwinner, Wishek and Rollette ND schools before moving to Westby Montana where he taught also in Plentywood, Montana.

He served as director of the North West Chorus for many years, there he met Doris Fosland. Unbeknownst to many family and friends they were married December 20,1986 in Jamestown ND. It was a happy Christmas surprise. They moved from Westby Montana to Crosby ND where he continued his teaching of music and choir.

He was a wonderful and well respected choir and band teacher.

Ed was very active in Concordia Lutheran Church where he was the organist and choir director and served as council president.

He was the manager of the Dakota Theater.

Ed loved music and loved to sing, sometimes making up his own words as he sang along.

Ed loved life and lived it to the fullest. He had a great sense of humor and a quick wit. He loved his little red Buick tooling around town wearing his shorts and Birkenstock sandals no matter the weather.

He will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

He was a loving and caring brother, son, uncle, friend, father-figure and grandpa Ed. He is survived by two brothers, Gary (Lana) of Wahpeton ND, Ken, of Orange Grove Texas and one sister, LuAnna Lund, Wahpeton ND; sisterin-law Sherrill Fosland, of Crosby, ND; Many nieces and nephews, several great and great great nieces and nephews, who he loved dearly. Always remembering them on their birthdays and holidays.

He was preceded in death

Lynn (Tangedal) McGhan | 1955 - 2023 | Obituary

Lynn Marie McGhan’s earthly journey began on January 14, 1955.

Born Lynn Marie Tangedal to Elton and Yvonne (Willard) Tangedal in Plentywood, MT, she was the third of six children; Jerry (Kathy) Tangedal, Steven Tangedal, Luanne Tangedal, Douglas Tangedal, Craig (Tracy) Tangedal, entering the world as a farmer’s daughter, she grew up on the family farm in Elkorn Township, Divide County, North Dakota.

She was baptized at Oslo Lutheran Church and confirmed at First Lutheran Church, in Westby, MT.

Growing up on the farm with five siblings, there was always something to do, as they had their own fun, whether that was baseball, exploring the hills, sledding, ice skating, snowmobiling or playing board games and cards. When her older brother, Steven, started school, he would come home and teach her everything. She could read fluently before going to first grade. So, after only a short time, she was put in second grade. Lynn soon then took piano lessons. After progressing in her lessons, she was always accompanying her siblings at their annual family Christmas programs at the farm. In high school she was active in band with her saxophone skills. She would play her saxophone, as well as sing in many choirs at State music festival events over the years.

Lynn was a cheerleader for the 1972 State champion Ranger basketball team. She also attended State track meets for hurdles and relay. Her relay team held the Westby school record for many years. Title 9 was effective the month after she graduated, otherwise her unsanctioned basketball play may have been recognized. She started out with girl’s half court play in physical education class.

Graduating Westby high school in 1972 she then attended Minot State College where she caught the eye of and fell in love with Eugene (Gene) McGhan of Crosby, ND, marrying in 1974 and soon thereafter becoming a loving & caring mother of two sons; Eugene (Geno) Elton (Melissa) McGhan and Matthew Alan (Lisa) McGhan & a little further down the path, a grandmother of 6 grandchildren; Maegan, Wils, Mia, Caitlynn, Leslie, and Evelyn, who were the jewels of her heart and pride & joy.

The time and miles traveled between were filled with a full life with many stops. She and Gene traveled to all 50 states, singing songs and harmonizing along the way. Many roads were traversed to, and with, her many nieces and nephews and cousins filling the time with love as well as taking care of many friends by his wife, Doris, parents John and Helen Retzer; brother-in-law John Fosland and Glen Lund; and very good friend Jim Weiler.

Memorials may be given to the North West Choir.

Services

Prayer Service

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 5:00 PM

Stakston-Martin Funeral Home of Crosby

710 S Main St Crosby, ND 58730

Memorial Service

Thursday, May 18, 2023 10:00 AM

Concordia Lutheran Church 204 Main Street N.E. Crosby, Northa Dakota 58730 and family along the way.

When not busy with traveling her life revolved around bowling, softball, but more importantly, caring for those around her, beginning with her two boys — moving to Craig, Colorado in 1979 — she soon thereafter began to take care of special education needs children through the 10 years of living near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Making a big move east to Virginia, as her boys were finishing middle & high school, she leveled up her caretaking skills and got her degree in Physical Therapy, Magnum Cum Laude, from John Tyler College to then take care of those in need in Central Virginia. She took that love of caretaking with her on the next big move back out west to La Center, Washington and eventually over to the foothills in and around Spokane, Washington until retirement.

During those waypoints you could typically find her being a cheerleader for her favorite sports teams, Minnesota Twins and Vikings, Montana State University Bobcats or Gonzaga Bulldogs as well as being the best fisher in the family.

Nana/Grandma Sister, as her grandchildren lovingly called her, was on an eventual farewell road trip, in warm & sunny Florida cheering on her Minnesota Twins, with her boys by her side when she left this earth to begin her new journey, on April 30, 2023, to fish with her dad and many other family members preceding her in heaven.

A private Ash Scattering Gathering will take place this summer at the Oslo Cemetery near Westby.

Surviving family members include her husband, sons, mother, and all of her siblings, along with her beloved grandchildren and daughters-in law. She also has many special cousins, nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her father and his siblings, a niece, Randi Tangedal, and her grandparents, Hannah and Bill Willard and Erling and Gertie Tangedal.