Agnes Estelle Skarperud

Agnes Estelle (Molvig) Skarperud was born on March 17, 1918 in Buxton Township, the daughter of Jens and Clara (Saevig) Molvig. She died following a brief illness at Mayville Sanford Hospital on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. Agnes grew up on a farm and graduated from Buxton High School in 1935. She received her Standard diploma from Mayville State College in 1938. Going to summer school, she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1944. She married Leon Orlando Skarperud in Buxton on June 25, 1946. Her first teaching position was in a rural school near Buxton. From 1944-1949 she was a supervising teacher in a rural school affiliated with the college. She worked to write the Science curriculum for the state of North Dakota during that time. Agnes accepted the position of a fifth grade teacher in Mayville for seven years. She resigned this position in March 1951 and became a stay-at-home Mom for ten years. During this time she was the librarian at the Mayville Public Library. In 1961, she became the librarian and school teacher at Mayville Junior Senior High School. In 1975 she became the librarian at the Mayville-Portland High School. Agnes also was the advisor for the “Spirit of 84” high school yearbook. Under her guidance, 16 volumes were published. Agnes and Leon raised their children in Mayville enjoying all of the musical, theatrical, and athletic activities of the public schools. Both Agnes and Leon enjoyed all of their children’s classmates even after their retirement. Agnes was proud that she lived in her own home independently until the age of 95. She was the family historian publishing extensive histories of the Saevig and Molvig families. Following thirty-six years in education she retired into the role of a grandmother, passionate traveler, and community supporter. Agnes and Leon traveled in many areas of the United States and several trips to Europe, sometimes with groups from Mayville State University. Some of their trips included Norway, Vienna, London, Copenhagen and Mexico. Agnes also found fellow-travelers in her sister Hjerdis Watson and sister-in-law Avis Skarperud. Spending time at Cormorant Lake during the summers, also gave Agnes many happy memories. Agnes was a member of Retired Teachers, Mayville Lutheran Church, Sons of Norway, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She is survived by her children, Claire Louise (Richard) Moen, of Grand Forks, James Leon (Barbara) Skarperud, of Buxton, and Jean Angela Brown of Mayville, formerly of Colorado Springs. She has seven grandchildren and six great-grandsons. Also surviving is her sister Naomi Borke and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2007, her parents,two sisters, Hjerdis Watson and an infant sister also named Agnes Estelle. Visitation: Will be 1 – 3 PM with a 3 PM Public Prayer Service on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at the Baker Funeral Home Chapel and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Service: 11:00 AM Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Mayville Lutheran Church in Mayville, ND. Burial: Mayville Cemetery, Mayville, ND.