Laura Virginia Cecilia (Keller) McCarthy passed away on July 6, 2023, at Chi St Alexius Hospital in Devils Lake, ND.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, July 13 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Reverend Matthew Kraemer celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery
Laura was born in Selz, ND on Dec. 10, 1932, to John and Anna (Fleck) Keller. She lived on the family farm and attended school in Noonan. Laura and her six siblings worked on the farm before and after school. Their jobs were to milk the cows, feed the livestock and field work such as stacking hay and “shocking” bundles of grain. They moved to a farm Northeast of Devils Lake, ND, and she graduated from St Mary’s High School in 1951.
Following high school, she took a job as a bookkeeper for Fairmont Foods. She later worked as a telephone operator and then as a Service Rep for the local telephone company.
She was united in marriage to John “Jack” McCarthy on Feb. 11, 1964, at St Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake. They made their home on the family farm north of Devils Lake. They raised cattle and farmed various crops. Many summer days were spent picking chokecherries and making jam, gardening, canning, and bringing meals out to the guys in the field.
In addition to farming, Jack and Laura kept busy raising their five children and instilled that faith and family were most important. Jack passed away in 1994 and Laura remained on the farm until 2006 when she moved to town. Her grandchildren visited her often and brought her so much joy.
Laura enjoyed baking, gardening, traveling, watching UND hockey, sewing and playing cards, especially Bridge, often entertaining on “Bridge” night.
She spent many years volunteering at the Seconds Counts store at the St Joseph Parish Center. She was a member of St Joseph Catholic Church and the Altar Society serving as President of St Patricia’s Circle. Laura faithfully attended adoration for many years.
She is survived by her sons John McCarthy, Paul (Abbey) McCarthy; daughters Katherine (Tyler) Axdahl, Mary (Jon) McPhail and Colleen (Curt) Ranum; a sister Jane Thompson; Grandchildren Jeremy (Ashley) McCarthy, Justin (Carley) McCarthy, Meghan (Riley) Nelson, Nathan (Jennifer) Axdahl, Bryce Axdahl, Collin Axdahl, Jacob McPhail, Riley McPhail, Alivia McCarthy, Annika McCarthy, Madeline McCarthy, Owen Ranum and Finn Ranum. Great grandchildren Cayden, Jack, Emma, Lauren, Quinn, and Andi; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Jack McCarthy; Parents John and Anna Keller; Sisters MaryAnn (Bert) Schiele, Lenore (Art) Olson, Loretta (Tony) Buchmeier, Louisa (Clarence) Morse; one brother Clarence (Gloria) Keller and brother-in-law James Thompson.
In Laura’s memory, memorial donations may be sent to St Joseph Catholic School at 824 10th Ave NE in Devils Lake, ND 58301.
