Morris Madsen

Morris Madsen

MINOT - Morris Madsen, 86, Minot, formerly of Ruso, died June 24, 2007, in a Minot hospital. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Benedict. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Ruso Community Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 6:30 p.m. today at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, where prayer services will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Morris was born April 6, 1921, the son of Nels P. and Ingeborg (Lein) Madsen, on the family farm near Ruso. He was reared and educated in the Ruso area, attending country schools. His father died when Morris was 12 years old, so Morris took over the operations of the farm.

On Nov. 18, 1942, he enlisted into the United States Army, at Fort Snelling, Minn. He proudly served his country during World War II's Battles of the Bulge, Rhineland, Ardennes and in Central Europe. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, EAME Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Clasp, American Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal Ribbon. He was honorably discharged Dec. 4, 1945, at Separation Point Camp, Bowie, Texas. Following his discharge, he returned to North Dakota and worked at Truax Coal Mine.

Morris was united in marriage to Lois Ann Riba March 23, 1954, in Minot. Following their marriage, they lived and farmed in the Strawberry Lake area, southeast of Ruso. Along with farming, Morris also drove school bus for Ruso and Butte for 17 years. They retired, in 1988, when they moved to Minot. Lois died April 25, 1990. He continued to live in Minot and was a member of Butte American Legion and Minot Moose Lodge, where he enjoyed attending the various dances held at the lodge. He also enjoyed walking at Dakota Square Shopping Center and having coffee at Schatz Econostop.

He is survived by his sons, Tom (Linda) Madsen and Donald (Kay) Madsen, all of Minot; his daughters, Donna (Kurt) Schatz, Minot, and Kimberly (Gary) Bless, Bismarck; his step-sons, Duane Head, North Carolina, and David Head, Colorado; his grandchildren, Adam Schatz (Amy Thom), Tyson Schatz, Kyle Schatz, Trisha (Mark) Scheid, Troy (Angie) Madsen; his step-grandchildren, Eric (Kelsey) Bless and Kristin Bless; his great-grandchild, Aidenn Madsen; his sisters-in-law, Charlotte Madsen, Garrison, and Hulda Madsen, Turtle Lake; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Morris was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his grandson, Seth Schatz; his brothers, Palmer Madsen and Ned Madsen; and his sister, Gena Sheelar.