Leon Orlando Skarperud

Leon O. Skarperud, 88, of Mayville, ND, died Sunday, December 2, 2007 at Union Hospital, Mayville. Leon was born January 1, 1919 in Mayville Township, the son of Andrew and Karen (Aarhus) Skarperud. He graduated from Mayville High School in 1937. On June 25, 1946, Leon married Agnes Molvig at Buxton, ND. He attended the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, qualifying him for apprenticeship in electricity; this year marking 40 years of membership with the IBEW electrical union. Leon took up welding at the East Grand Forks Technology School. He worked for the telephone company for sixteen years and then for the Northern States Power Company for fifteen years, where he was a high-wire lineman. Leon also worked for the North Dakota State Highway Department where he maintained roads, in all sorts of weather, for sixteen years. In 1988, he received the prestigious State Employee Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service. His name is inscribed on the traveling trophy. Leon helped organize the West Traill Ambulance Service, served on the Mayville City Council for twelve years and served over fifty-two years with the Mayville Fire Department. Leon won the battle against Hodgkin’s Disease after taking thirty chemotherapy and twenty radiation treatments in 1998 thru 1999. After retiring, he joined the Sons of Norway and the Mayville Senior Center. Leon was a member of the Mayville Lutheran Church, the Men’s Club and sang with the Church Choir for over twenty-five years. He was also an avid collector of multiple items. He is survived by his wife, Agnes of Mayville; two daughters, Claire (Richard) Moen of Grand Forks and Jean (Rob) Brown of Colorado Springs, CO; one son, James (Barbara) Skarperud of Buxton; 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandsons. Leon is also survived by three sisters, Lucille Peterson of Mayville, Anna Mae Broton of Minneapolis and Helen Baker of Minneapolis; and numerous nieces and nephews. Leon was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Elton Skarperud and a sister, Kathleen Rizzi. FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 AM Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007 at Mayville Lutheran Church in Mayville, ND. VISITATION: Wednesday, December 5, 2007 from 5-7 PM with a 7 PM Public Prayer Service at the Baker Funeral Home and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church BURIAL: Mayville Cemetery, Mayville, ND.