Loren Kilber

Loren L. Kilber, 86, of Hazen, ND passed away with his family by his side on June 17, 2019 at Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen. Services will be held at 11:00 AM CDT on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hazen with Pastor Kirk Peters officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hazen.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Loren was born on April 1, 1933 to Martin and Amalie (Lauf) Kilber, northeast of Hazen where he was raised and educated. When he wasn’t working hard on the family farm, a young Loren could be found exploring the countryside with his favorite horses, Trigger and Foxie, or playing baseball with the Stanton league on Sunday afternoons. Loren’s first job as an adult off the farm was working construction and building the Garrison Dam.

On October 9, 1953 Loren married DeLora Maas at Zion Lutheran Church in Beulah. Loren recently said marrying DeLora was his greatest accomplishment. Loren and DeLora celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last year.

During the mid to late 1950’s, Loren served in the U.S. Army, 20th Engineer Battalion, and was stationed in Watertown, NY and Leominster, MA. After completing his active military service, Loren and DeLora returned to North Dakota and began what would become several decades of owning and operating small businesses in Underwood and Hazen. In the early 1970s, Loren and DeLora returned to farming and moved onto DeLora’s family farm, where they continued to farm until the early 2000s.

For 58 years, Loren was an active member of the Clark Grosz American Legion, serving both as Vice Commander and Commander. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and served as a member of the Board of Elders and the Stewardship and Audit committees. Loren enjoyed his volunteer work with the St. Matthew Braille workers and the Lutheran Braille ministeries.

Loren’s happiest joys came from his family, especially his four grandchildren. He closely and proudly watched them grow into the bright, responsible adults they are today.

Loren is survived by his loving wife, DeLora; three children, Jeffrey, Cammy (Dean) Bray and Kenyon; four grandchildren, Lindsey and Alexander Bray, Nicole (Dan) Teske and Heather Kilber; one sister, Irene; three brothers, Edgar, Albert (Marguerite) and Robert; two sisters-in-law, Wilma and Ardis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Loren was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Amalie; three sisters, Alice, Helen and Elsie; two brothers, Elmer and Martin, Jr.; two brothers-in-law, Arnold Bohrer and Walter Mohl; one niece, Tracy; and one nephew, Robert.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Clark Grosz American Legion, Bismarck Cancer Center, Sakakawea Medical Center and St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Large Print Braille books).

Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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