Obert Lofthus
Obert Lofthus
Obert Lofthus
Obert was born on November 29, 1927 in Highlanding, Minnesota, the seventh of eleven children born to parents Oscar and Signe Lofthus. He passed away of natural causes at Cherry Hill Assisted Living in Thompson Falls on February 17, 2011.
The family moved to Ebro, MN in 1939 where he attended grade school. In 1945 the family moved to a larger farm in Bagely, MN, where he worked on the family farm until being drafted into the Army in 1952. He was stationed in Korea during that war and was honorably discharged from the Reserves in 1960.
Obert moved to Thompson Falls in the early 50s where he worked at Flodin’s Lumber, (now TRL), until his retirement in the early 90s. Obert and Dorothy (Knabe) Rummel were married in 1958. At that time, Obert was a carefree bachelor of 34 years. He married Dorothy who had five children from a previous marriage, and from then on was a hero in his stepchildren’s eyes. They had two additional children, Ole and Tina, and for a time raised their grandson Trevert.
Bert loved music and he played his banjo and accordion in jam sessions throughout the county with old timers such as Bud Iff, Louie LaRock, Dick Davis, Everett Poff and many others. In his later years he played in the nursing home with Alan and Howard Dykstra and Bill Marsh and brought joy and good memories to many. He loved to garden and especially liked to grow spuds and onions.
Dorothy passed away in 1990, and in 1995 Bert met Marie Barber. On June 29, 1996, he and Marie celebrated their love in a blessing ceremony in their back yard in Plains, among their lush gardens with family and friends
He and Marie shared a love of gardening, selling their vegetables and flowers at the Farmer’s Market and entering their vegetables at the Sanders County Fair, where they won many blue ribbons.
Bert went to live at Cherry Hill Assisted Living in Thompson Falls in September 2010 where they gave him tender loving care until the end.
Bert was a wonderful, kind man, and that showed through in how he lived his life and how he treated others.
Surviving Bert are his son, Obert Jr. (Peggy), daughter Bertina Smith; stepchildren: Gwenetta (Ron) Pirker, Pernella (Mike Allen), Jim (Dianne) Rummel, and Jennine (Everett) Robbins, all of Thompson Falls; three brothers: Thelman Lofthus, Bagley, MN, Julian Lofthus, Thompson Falls, MT, and Mel Lofthus, Fairbanks, AK; four sisters: Edna Siegert, Bremerton WA, Violet Berentsen, Silverdale, WA, Gloria Amunrud, Spokane, Wa., Arlene Kegley, Poulsbo, WA, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Obert is also survived by an extended family of loved ones in Plains. His loving, devoted partner of 15 years, Marie Barber; stepchildren: Debi Kulawinski (David) and Chris Allen (Shannon) Plains; Laura Crawford (David) Ronan, and Daren Brekke (Veronica) Waldorf, MD, and numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren, as well as many friends.
Bert was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Andor, Sidney, and infant Melvin, his wife Dorothy, and stepson Joe Rummel.
His grin, chuckle and open heart captivated everyone he met. He was loved by all who were blessed to know him, and will be missed by them all.
Graveside services will be held at Whitepine Cemetery Saturday, February 26 at 2:00 p.m. A luncheon at the Whitepine Grange Hall will follow.
A dinner to honor Bert’s life will also be held at the V.F.W. hall in Plains, at 4:30 p.m.