William Lassey
Funeral services for William “Bill” Lassey, 97, of Cartwright, N.D. were held at 11:00 a.m. MT, Saturday, March 5, 2011, at St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church in Cartwright, with Reverend Marianne Ell officiating. Musical selections were provided by Karen and Kevin Boehler. Casketbearers were his grandsons: Shawn, Luke and Will Berry, Tim Stewart, Brady Berndt and Dan Goebel. Honorary Pallbearers were his granddaughters, Linda Wildman, Charlene Gunther, Karen Whitney, Cindy Stewart, Susan Welnel, Carol Sandvik, Julie Goebel, Lonna Sundhiem, Dione Greenberg, and Maureen Rude. Ushers were Jerry Lassey and David Lassey. Interment took place in the Sidney Cemetery, Sidney, Mont. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.
William Lassey died in his sleep on March 2, 2011, on his 97th birthday.
He was a real gentleman and a gentle soul who will always be remembered for having a smile on his face. He always had a positive attitude and touched people’s lives around him.
He was born on the family farm north of Cartwright, the eighth of nine children, to Constant and Emilie Lassey. He married Grace Clark in Sidney on Dec. 27, 1932, during the depth of the Depression. He and his father built a two-room cottonwood log house near the Yellowstone River where he and Grace lived, and continued to live on the farm for the rest of his life.
He was Inspector in charge of elections for 35 years, on the Board of the Farmers Union Oil Co. (now Cenex) for 28 years, and was Director and Executive Director for the McKenzie County Grazing Association for 30 years. He also served on the State Advisory Board of the North Dakota Rangeland Resource Program.
He is survived by: his son, William R. Lassey (Marie) of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his daughters, Marilyn Sackman (Issy) of Sidney, and Mavis Berry (Ron) of Cartwright; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
His wife, Grace, preceded him in death in 1997; daughter, Lila Stewart, in 2010; grandson, Rod Propp; his parents, Constant and Emilie Lassey; brothers, Julius, Ray, Frank, Emil, and Morris Lassey, and sisters, Sophie Youngstrom, Martha Winters, and Mary Shaide.