Omar W. Locken • 1925 - 2004

Omar W. Locken, 79, 4715 33rd Ave. SE, Minot, ND, died Monday, September 20, 2004, at a Minot hospital.

Omar was born on June 3, 1925, the son of Andrew and Nandy (Olson) Locken on the family farm, in Shealy Township, Ward County, rural Plaza, ND. He was the ninth of ten children and was baptized and confirmed at the Spring Valley Lutheran Church in Plaza and attended rural schools there. He moved to Minot by himself at the age of fourteen and worked for Great Northern Railroad. He joined the US Navy on March 9, 1944, and served in Guam in the South Pacific Theater and was honorably discharged on May 29, 1946.

Omar married Helen Kessler on November 29, 1947, in Minot. They raised a daughter and three sons. The family moved to Tioga, ND. In 1953, Omar was employed as a truck driver for B.L. Lawrence's Trucking Company and then for ten years on the North Slope of Alaska at Prudhoe Bay as a supervisor for the Kodiak Oilfield Haulers. He was very respected and well thought of in the oilfield community. Omar retired at the age of 57 and he and Helen moved back to Minot in December of 1975 to be closer to children and grandchildren. Omar had a big yard and loved gardening and the different varieties of birds that lived in his many trees. He would get up early in the morning and spend the whole day outside working in the yard, making it look like a beautiful park.

Omar and Helen took many trips together over the years, their favorite being a trip to Alaska. Omar enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and playing cards, especially pinochle with family and friends. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and was a homebody.

Omar spent the last three and a half years at St. Benedictine Living Center in Garrison, ND, where he made many acquaintances and was cared for by a loving and caring staff. Omar will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

Surviving family includes: wife: Helen, Minot of 56 years; daughter: Nancy (Jerry) Herman, Minot;
sons: Don (Mary) Locken, Bismarck, ND, James Locken, Minot, and Steven Locken, Minot;
former daughter-in-law: Mary Locken, Minot; grandchildren: Holly (Ron) Major, Sean Herman and Eric Locken all of Minot, Chris Locken and Melissa (Kelly) Wrangham both of Bismarck;
three great-grandchildren: Matthew and Megan Major, Minot, and Elway Wrangham, Bismarck;
sisters: Alma Johnson, Minot and Gladys Patton, Bismarck; brother: Leon Locken, Caldwell, Idaho;
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Omar was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Elvin, Edwin, Engvald and Orville; sisters, Mabel Dyke and Florence Rowe

Funeral Service: Thursday, September 23, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, ND.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.
Visitation: Wednesday September 22, 2004, from Noon until 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Officiant: Pastor Joel Hernes

Music: Ron Major - Vocalist
"On Eagle's Wings" & "Softly and Tenderly"
Dr. Mark Dimond - Organist
Congregational Hymns:
"Amazing Grace" #448 & "How Great Thou Art" #532

Honorary Bearers: Omar's family and friends

Active Bearers: Stuart Collom, Kenny Locken, Eric Locken, Chris Locken, Lynden Eide, Sean Herman

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