Cornelius (C.L.) O'Keeffe • 1918 - 2010

Cornelius (C.L.) O’Keeffe, 91, Lansford, passed away March 16, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Mohall, ND. Services will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church, Lansford, ND on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the spring at St. John’s Cemetery, Lansford. Visitation will be held Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a vigil prayer service Friday at 7:00 p.m. all at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

C.L. (Cornie) was born June 22, 1918 to John and Amanda (Polsfut) O’Keeffe in Lansford. He attended grade school in Lansford and graduated high school as valedictorian of the class of 1938 at Blaine Township School,which was in the township where he was raised on their family farm. The family farm was homesteaded in 1903 by his father and uncles. Cornie continued to farm the homesteaded farm and it remains in the family today.

On December 27, 1950 he married Julitta Middendorf in Foxholm, ND. Together they made their home and raised their family at the homesteaded farm. In 2006 suffering from Parkinsons, Cornie had to leave the farm and move into the Good Samaritan care center.

Cornie loved to farm and it showed in his passion of not wanting to move from it. Cornie was awarded the Mouse River Soil Conservation Award, the Renville-Bottineau Agricultural Improvement Award and the Bottineau County Golden Harvest Award.  He was an avid hunter. He actively participated in deer hunting up until 2007, even able to take a shot that deer season.

He was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church, served a number of years as a Blaine Township officer, a lifetime member of the Minot Elk’s, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Cornie served on the Lansford Elevator board, North Dakota State Fair board and for many years was an insurance agent for Scandinavian Mutual Insurance and later Hartland Mutual Insurance.

Left with memories are his three sons, Mike (Kathy), Bismarck, ND, Myles (Ranelle), Lansford, David (Lisa), Mohall and his daughter, Nancy (Mike) Stamness, Minot; seven grandchildren, Tim (Kari) O’Keeffe, Fargo, Jason O’Keeffe, Bismarck, Heather (Sam) Nordick and Levi O’Keeffe, Mohall, Britta O’Keeffe, Laramie, WY, Erin (Jeremy) Hyatt and Ellen Stamness, Raleigh, NC; four great grandchildren; stepgrandson, Ross Anderson, Mohall and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cornie was preceded in death by in wife, Julitta in 1985; his parents, one brother, John and two sisters, Jean and Patrica.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to St. John’s Catholic Church, Lansford, ND, or the Good Samaritan Society, Mohall, ND.

Service Participants
Celebrant of the Liturgies ~ Father Chris B. Walters
Concelebrant ~ Deacon Dennis Dean
Placing of the Pall ~ Cornie’s children
Reader ~ Cornie’s grandson, Tim O’Keeffe
Gift Bearers – Pat and George Foulkes
Organist ~ Linda Dean

Music
Processional, “On Eagle’s Wings”
Offertory, “Prayer of St. Francis”
Communion, “Gift of Finest Wheat”
Commendation, “Song of Farewell”
Recessional, “Be Not Afraid”

Honorary Bearers: All of Cornie’s family, friends and neighbors

Active Bearers: Cornie’s grandchildren
Tim O’Keeffe,  Jason O’Keeffe, Heather Nordick, Levi O’Keeffe, Britta O’Keeffe,  Erin Hyatt, Ellen Stamness,  Ross Anderson

Following the funeral everyone is invited to join the family for lunch and fellowship in the church fellowship hall.

Our family would like to thank everyone for the many acts of kindness shown during this difficult time.  Your thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten. 

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