Loren B. Willard

Loren B Willard, age 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND, on Friday, August 19th. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Assumption Catholic Church in Barnesville with Father Gary LaMoine presiding.  Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Barnesville, MN.  Visitation will Tuesday, August 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville.  Visitation will resume one hour prior to Mass on Wednesday at the church.  Loren was born October 12, 1939 to Leo and Florence (Warner) Willard.  He attended Campbell Public School and graduated in 1957.  He graduated from North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton in 1959.  He also attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Loren enlisted in the USAF in November of 1960, and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, FL.  In the Air Force, he worked as a computer operator and then taught himself how to program computers.  He was honorably discharged in 1964. He was employed as a computer programming instructor at NDSSS from 1965-1969.  He was then employed at NDSU as a computer programmer from 1969 until July 1976; he was responsible for the maintenance of the payroll system for NDSU.  He also expanded the student admissions and record system for the Fargo Public Schools and installed a library serials system.  He then returned to teaching at Northwest Technical College (Moorhead Tech), and taught computer programming classes from BASIC and COBOL languages at the beginning of his career, to Java classes nearing his retirement in June of 2000. Loren married Margaret Gisi at Nativity Church in Fargo, on June 23, 1973.  They resided at the home Loren built near Downer, MN for most of their marriage, only moving into Barnesville in 2002.  In 2002, Loren suffered a severe stroke and resided in the Barnesville nursing home until the time of his death.  There were many wonderful people that cared for him over the last 14 years, and for that we are very thankful. Loren was a dedicated member of the Assumption Catholic Church in Barnesville.  In his spare time, Loren enjoyed learning and teaching.  He was always looking for the next “teachable moment,” where he could try to share his knowledge with anyone interested.  He was always happy when he found someone who could also teach him something.  He used to say “There is nothing you can’t do, you just need to learn how.”  He lived by that rule, often taking equipment apart just to figure out how it worked.  He enjoyed debating with anyone willing, and his favorite topics were religion and politics.  He also enjoyed fishing, playing cards with family, and modifying (“fixing”) any piece of equipment that he could.  It has been said “if there is 1000 ways to do something, Loren would find 1001”. He loved his dear wife Maggie, whom he referred to as his “keeper” since his stroke 14 years ago.  As a father of 3 girls, he was determined to raise his daughters to be strong, independent women.  He was always proud of his daughters, whom he fondly referred to as “the boss, the sergeant, and the lieutenant.” Loren is survived by his wife Maggie, his children Susan (Alex) Roeser, Delano, MN, Julie (Chad) Shannon, Vergas, MN, Deb Willard, Moorhead, MN, grandchildren Charlie and Claudia Roeser, and Avery and Ryken Shannon, sisters Gail (Bob) Kuefler, Forest City, IA, Charlotte (Rich) Davison, Tintah, MN, Brother-in-law Dean Toelle, Tintah MN, and many nieces and nephews. Loren was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Florence Willard, and his sister Lavonne Toelle.   Loren Willard Bulletin