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Wendell "Springy" Springsted • 1923 - 2009 Springy was born November 11, 1923, in Voltaire, North Dakota, to Jay and Mabel Springsted. He was reared and educated in Velva, ND. In 1943, Springy enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in the Philippines and throughout the Pacific Theatre until he was honorably discharged in 1946. Following his discharge from the Navy, Springy returned to Velva and later relocated to Portland, Oregon, where he married June Marie Westphal on June 26, 1948. While living in Portland, Springy worked as a plumber and obtained a journeyman plumber's license. Springy brought his young family back to the Velva area in the summer of 1950, when he went to work for Minot Plumbing and Heating. In 1951, June and Wendell relocated to Garrison where he was employed by the Truax Coal Mine. The following year, Springy was transferred by Truax to Columbus, North Dakota where he participated in building the first dragline at Truax mine near Columbus. In 1964, Springy began providing welding services to the various oil companies drilling and pumping in the oil patch. Business grew steadily and by 1966, Springy purchased a shop north of Lignite to accommodate the increased business activity. Through the late 1960s and early 1970s, Springy grew his business from welding services to providing roustabout services and a construction crew. As Springy's construction business grew, Springy slowly phased-out of the welding business to focus his attention on earthmoving. He and his wife and family relocated from Columbus to Lignite in 1973. In the 1970s, Springy's Welding and Roustabout Service eventually grew into Springy's Construction, which consisted of a roustabout crew and an earth moving crew. The roustabout crew set pumping units, performed general repair work and pipeline work. Springy's construction crew prepared oil sites for drilling rigs by preparing the sites, building access roads, digging reserve pits, and cleaning the sites once the drilling crews had the wells dug and the pumps were in operation. Springy retired in 1988. During his retirement he spent time fishing, and gardening. He took at great deal of pride in keeping his lawn mowed and watered. In his later years, he spent many hours on his garden tractor mowing and tilling. He loved a good game of pinochle with his friends and enjoyed trips to the casino. He liked to be around home and waited for his family to visit. He was a expert at working crossword puzzles and enjoyed reading Louis Lamoure and many other western books. Wendell's loving family includes his wife, June; four daughters, Linda Bossert (Peter), Minot, JoAnn Bakken (Bob), Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Marsha Larson, Williston, Glenda Spencer (Bob), Devils Lake, daughter-in-law, Sonia Springsted of Oklahoma, eleven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one brother, Jay (Connie) of Minot, two sisters, Vanetta Rosenberg (Dick) of Minot and Eldred Bartochevisch of Texas. He also leaves behind his cat "Snoop." Wendell was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Lois, his two sons, Jerry and Les, and a son in law, Donald Blom. The Celebration of his life will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Lignite at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 31, 2009. Officiant: Pastor Phyllis Scroggins Music: Congregational Hymns: “Old Rugged Cross” & “Silent Night” Honorary Bearers: Springy’s family and friends Active Bearers: Justin Blom, Dustin Larson, Barry Palmer, Harley Mangold, Matt Kihle, Elroy Buerkle Military honors accorded by the North Dakota National Honor Guard and the Lignite American Legion Post #35. Immediately following the funeral service, please join the family for a time of fellowship and lunch in the fellowship hall. The graveside service will commence at 1:30 pm. Our family would like to thank all of you for your many acts of kindness. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated during this difficult time. May God bless the memory of Springy. To sign the online guest
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Wendell LaVerne “Springy” Springsted, 86, Lignite, died Friday, December 25, 2009, in a Minot hospital surrounded by his loving wife of 61 years and his family.