Orville Ness

Orville Raymond Ness, 93, of Hatton, N.D. passed away Sunday morning, December 22, 2019 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, rural Hatton. A visitation will be held Friday, December 27, 2019 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the Hatton Prairie Village Chapel. Memorials will benefit Beaver Creek Church, the church that Orville called home since the day he was born.

The son of Oscar and Annie Ness, Orville was born on the Ness Farm west of Hatton on September 16, 1926. He was raised on that farm with his three sisters and five brothers where he first developed his love for the land. With our country at war, Orville voluntarily enlisted in the Army in April 1945 and, by October, was on a ship to Japan. Just a teenager, Orville was the head of a Motor Pool bravely defending our country before he was honorably discharged.

After returning from Japan, Orville married Lorraine Ostmo on the Ostmo Farm in 1951. Orville and Lorraine were happily married for 68 years and everyone that knows them can speak to their love. Rarely were they seen not holding hands. To this day, he would still refer to Lorraine as his “bride”, setting the best example of love and commitment.

Orville was a learner and a teacher. Above all else, he was a family man. He loved holidays and spending time with his family – not just with his children and grandchildren, but also his extended family and friends. He loved traveling, fishing, camping, and playing cards. He was a farmer and a conservationist. A man of the church. He taught us how to work hard, but still enjoy life. He taught us the value of commitment and the value of the dollar. He showed us how to be good humans. He was kind.

Orville and Lorraine had two children: Vickie (Mick) Thon and Lyle (Karen) Ness. They were blessed with seven grandchildren: Todd (Adonica), Kelly (Christina), Annie (Rob), Peter, Jenny, Rachel, and Elizabeth. And, had the opportunity to spend time with their seven great-grandchildren: Medora, Nicholas, Riley, Oscar, Katrina, Katelyn, Thomas, and Kurtis.

Orville was preceded in death by his mother and father; baby daughter; and siblings: Gilmore, Richard (Verona), Donna (Robert), Kelly (Eunice), Myrtle (Kenneth), and Lillian (Stanford). He leaves behind his wife and extended family including his brothers Jim (Shirley) and Dale (Barb) as well as his sister-in-law Lucille, to continue on with the Ness family legacy.