David Jan Lundstrom

David Jan Lundstrom, 77, of Hazen, passed away, Monday, May 20, 2024, at Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen.  A private family interment will be held.

David Jan Lundstrom was born May 8, 1947, to David V. and Esther (Albers) Lundstrom.  David was raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. In his boyhood summers, he and his family would drive the 1000-mile round trip to visit his many Albers relatives in Hazen. He loved his North Dakota family. And he loved North Dakota.

            During graduate school at Illinois State University, David discovered the beauty of literature. And of Kathleen Milosevich. The feeling was mutual and they married on December 18, 1971. In the autumn of 1974, Kathleen was offered a teaching job in Hazen and, to David’s great delight, she accepted. They trekked north. In 1975, they purchased the Albers family homestead. At the time, the house featured no indoor plumbing. History does not record how David convinced Kathy this was a good idea.

            But the farm soon began its transformation, all of it accomplished by the couple’s decades of impressive labors and skills. It became their sanctuary, comforting home, and the perfect place to raise their two sons, David and Paul. David’s love of machinery and nature and his endless curiosity led to a lifetime of projects and innovation on the farm, featuring horses, motorcycles, trucks, cars, carpentry, forestry, hunting, baking bread, ornithology, and nearly everything else. He passed this curiosity to his sons & grandchildren.

            Reading and a true love of language was a fixture of David’s life.  He kept a notebook of new words he encountered while reading and strove to use them in conversation.  He and Kathy loved sitting on the front porch. As David’s boundless energy began to wane, he could often be found there, reading and watching the birds at the feeders he had made from leftover parts representing a lifetime of projects. 

He taught Jr. High English in Hazen for more than 30 years. He loved being a Jr. High teacher and it showed. He impacted countless students in their formative years.

His greatest love was his home and family. David took great joy in being a dad. He gave the best, tightest and most genuine hugs.

David was preceded in death by his parents, David and Esther, and his brother-in-law, Paul Farney. David is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathleen E. Lundstrom; his sons, David Nicholas (Elizabeth) and Paul Daniel (Leisha) Lundstrom; beloved grandchildren, Hannah, David Henry, Fredric, and Raymond; sister, Karen Farney (Oklahoma City, OK); brother, Peter (Joyce) Lundstrom (Bloomington, MN); and nieces, nephews, and many friends.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, please donate to Sakakawea Hospice, Hazen, ND.         

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Hazen and Beulah.

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