Embert A. Sveum , 95, Minot and longtime Maxbass area farmer and crop sprayer, died Thursday, January 9, 2014 in a Minot hospital.

Embert Sveum was born June 6, 1918, the third son of Even and Anna (Walsvig) Sveum. He grew to manhood on the family farm near Max and graduated from Max High School in 1936. He worked in the Sawyer, ND coal mine for 2 winters and then moved to the Maxbass, ND area as a farm worker. He was united in marriage to Pearl Lerfald on June 24, 1940. The couple farmed in the Maxbass area until 1980 on the original farmstead where Pearl was born. In 1952 he was a state winner in the Soil Conservation Achievement Award sponsored by the Greater North Dakota Association. They moved to Minot in 1990. Embert was a two-time cancer survivor; prostate cancer in the winter of 1989-90 and colon cancer in 2003, otherwise he enjoyed a very healthy life.

Embert loved flying beginning in 1947 when he traded a John Deere combine for his first plane. He obtained his Commercial Pilots license and began operating Sveum Crop Spraying Service, which continued for 13 years in the late 1950's through the early 1970's.

Embert was a member of the Advisory Board of the Upham Irrigation Experiment Farm, the Newburg School Board for 9 years, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bottineau Currant newspaper for several years, a member of the Board of Supervisors of the Mouse River Soil Conservation District for 19 years, a member of the Board for the Westhope Home for the Aged for 8 years. Embert also served as a 4-H leader for 10 years.

Embert was a member of the Holden Lutheran Church in rural Maxbass from 1940 until the church closed in 1965. During this time he served on the Board of Trustees for the congregation for several years. He was also a Sunday School teacher for several years. After the closure of Holden he became a member of the English Lutheran Church in Maxbass and served on its Church Council. He was a major contributor and laborer during the construction of the church building in 1963-64.

Embert was a member of the Minot Moose Lodge and the associated Polkateers and very much enjoyed dancing. He also enjoyed visiting with friends, flying, traveling, woodworking, and playing pinochle. He seemed to have an acquaintance or friend in every restaurant or corner in the Dakota Square Mall. He traveled throughout the US, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Hawaii and Alaska with Pearl. After his marriage to Marie Gefroh on August 13, 2003, they enjoyed many trips around the upper Midwest.

Embert is survived by his wife, Marie, daughter, Glenda (Dean) Mortenson of West Fargo, sons, Larry (Carol) of Alamosa, Colorado, and Loren of Fargo; grandchildren, Sara (Steve) Larson, Grant (Cherie) Mortenson, Evan Sveum, Amanda (Bret) Bentow, Colore Sveum, Niels Sveum, and Lany Sveum; great-grandchildren, Bryce, Brooke, Brooklyn, Nicholas, Ella, Bree, Selena, Aiden and Jayda; a nephew, Myron; Marie's children, Diane (Ryan) Zakopyko of Spokane, Washington, Patricia (Dave) Allis of Thornton, Colorado, Marianne Cole of Portland, Oregon, and Kevin Gefroh of Karlsruhe, ND.

Embert was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl, his parents, two brothers, Glanard and Kerchief, and one step brother, Claude Streeper, one step sister, Mona Berke, and step-mother, Ella.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Minot.
Celebration of Life Service: Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in English Lutheran Church, Maxbass, ND.
Interment: Holden Cemetery, rural Maxbass, ND
Visitation: Monday, January 13, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Holden Cemetery Fund, English Lutheran Church, Maxbass, Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Minot, Our Lady of Grace Food Pantry, Minot or to an organization of the donor's choice.