Obituaries

Lena Meier Keck, 96, of Devils Lake, ND, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Towner County Living Center in Cando, ND.

James “Jim”Schuler, 81 of Devils Lake, ND. passed away on March 4, 2026, at the CHI, St. Alexius Health, Garrison Hospital. Jim is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.

Barbara J. Orness, 76 of Devils Lake, formerly of Valley City, ND, passed away on March 3, 2026, in Devils Lake. Arrangements are pending for a service on May 2, 2026, at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.

Adam Bachmeier Sr., 86 of St. Michael, ND, passed away on March 4, 2026, at Essentia Health, Fargo ND. Adam is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.

Willis Walter Herald, son of William Henry and Mary Melinda (Littleghost) Herald was born 9, 1958, in Devils Lake, ND, he died Feb. 19, 2026. Willis grew up on the Spirit Lake Nation and he would call the Spirit Lake Nation his home his entire life.

Robert Walter Richotte, Sr. of Fargo, formerly of the Spirit Lake Nation, began his journey to the Spirit World on Feb. 26, 2026. Wake and Funeral Services are pending for March 5 and March 6 in St. Michael. Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND.

On Feb. 17, 2026, Louis (Louie) Joseph Hamel passed away peacefully at Bethany Retirement Home in Fargo, N.D., with family by his side. Louis was born on June 26, 1930, near Eckman, N.D. After graduating high school, Louis worked as a farm hand for Chris Zurcher Farms. He met Theresa (Stroh) in Minot, N.D. and they were married on Nov. 16, 1949. They relocated to Lakota, N.D., where they purchased their land and farmed for more than 50 years while raising their four children. Together Louie and Theresa celebrated 74 years of marriage.

Cynthia Theresa LaMorte (Wilhelmi) passed away unexpectedly at the age of 60 at her home in Williston, ND on Monday, Feb. 23. Daughter of Francis and Irene (Hoffart) Wilhelmi, she was born on Nov. 5, 1965, in Grafton, N.D. She grew up in Devils Lake with her seven siblings and attended Central High School.

Annette (Winn) Fisher, age 81, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Jan. 9, at Cherrywood Advanced Living in St. Cloud, surrounded by her loved ones.

Gary Stadum, 85, of Maddock, ND, passed away on Feb. 22, 2026, at SMP St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey, ND, surrounded by family. Visitation will be held Feb. 27 from 5:00 p.m. followed by Rosary and Vigil Service at the St. Williams Catholic Church in Maddock. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28 at the St. Williams Catholic Church. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery following mass.