Elizabeth Ruby McGarvey, 78 of Devils Lake, N.D. passed away on Friday, March 27 at HIA Heather’s House in Fargo, N.D. in the loving care of her family.
There will be a gathering of family and friends on Tuesday, April 7 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, 509 US-2 Frontage Rd. W, Devils Lake from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, April 8 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with fellowship to follow in the Parish Center dining hall.
Elizabeth Ruby Tollefson, one of nine children, was born on Sept. 19, 1947, in Maddock, N.D. to Rudolph and Eustean (Bingham) Tollefson. She grew up in the Harlow, N.D. area, and attended school in Maddock. When Elizabeth was only 11 years old, her father died from polio. The family left the Harlow area and moved to Devils Lake, N.D. and Liz would call it home for the rest of her lifetime.
With hard work and determination, Elizabeth earned her GED through Lake Region Jr. College. She worked at Mann’s Department Store until the late 1970s.
Liz was united in marriage to Charles McGarvey Sr. on July 18, 1973, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked, and raised their son Charles Jr.
Eventually, Liz began working in the Clerk of District Court office in Devils Lake until 1984. That year, Liz and Charles became the owners and operators of McGarvey’s Archery. Liz needed to be busy, so along with McGarvey’s Archery, she worked at Garsten Management until 1994. She decided to expand her horizon and went to work as a loan officer for Gate City Bank, then in 2011 became a loan officer for First Community Credit Union. She retired in 2023, not by choice. Liz loved her job and wanted to continue to serve her customers, but increasing health issues forced retirement.
Liz was a talented seamstress, and her summers were filled with tending her many beautiful flower beds. She loved hunting, fishing, camping and anything to do with the world of archery including membership in the Lake Region Bow Men’s Club (now Lake Region Sportsmen’s Club).
She poured her heart into serving her clients at the bank, found her peace in the woods with a bow in hand, and loved her family most of all.
Liz is survived by her husband Charles of nearly 53 years; son Charles “Chuck” McGarvey Jr. and his wife Amy of Fargo; grandchildren Gabrille McGarvey, Moorhead, Minn. and Allison McGarvey, Fargo; siblings Nancy (Bill) Thomas, Mandan N.D., Dan Tollefson, Horace, N.D., Mary Lou Steinhaus, Fargo, John (Marva) Tollefson, St. Michael, N.D., Rudy (Judy) Tollefson, Devils Lake; in-laws Gaylene Tollefson, Lakota N.D., Harry (Kathy) McGarvey, Devils Lake and Margo Rosemore also of Mandan.
She was reunited with her parents, siblings Barbara Rosendahl, Eleanor Williams and Lawrence Tollefson and in-law Harry Sr. and Emily McGarvey.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth Ruby McGarvey, please visit Gilbertson Funeral Home’s flower store at store.condolences.com/gilbertson-funeral-home or call (888) 219-0721.
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