Ernest LeRoy Tague, 90, lifelong Minot resident died on Friday, August 7, 2009 in a Minot healthcare center.

Ernest was born on October 20, 1918 in Minot, ND to Wes and Pearl (Zorn) Tague. He was reared and educated in Minot and graduated from Minot Model High School in 1937. As a young adult he was employed as a delivery man for the Granite Springs Water Company. He entered the U.S.Army on February 6, of 1942 at Fort Snelling and served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operations until his honorable discharge on October 5, 1945 at Fort Lewis, WA. He returned to Minot where he married Stella Mae Cummings in 1945. They made their home in Minot where he was employed at John Iverson Company. Stella died on October 29, 1953. Ernest was once married to Anita Ewert. Ernest married Helen Busek Olson on May 23, 1975 at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot. They made their home in Minot where he continued his employment with John Iverson Company as a traveling salesman. He retired in 1984 following thirty-four years with the company. For the past 4.5 years Ernest and Helen had resided at Edgewood Vista in Minot.

Ernest was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, American Legion Post #26, VFW Post #753, World War II Last Man's Club, Apple Grove Golf Course Men's Club and Minot Association of Professional Salesmen (MAPS) all in Minot. He especially enjoyed golfing, dancing, reading Louis L'Amour western novels, word search puzzles and following his retirement, extensive traveling especially to Las Vegas and Laughlin . He was especially proud of his hole-in-one on hole #2 at the Apple Grove Golf Course.

Ernest's loving family includes his wife of 34 years Helen; children: Eugene (Kathy) Tague of Minot, Steve Tague of Sioux Falls, SD, and Julie (Kevin) Pederson of Minot; four grandchildren: Shawn (Ronda) Tague, Shara (Brooks) Speake, Jessica (Andy) Rapsavage and Spencer Pederson; six great grandchildren: Zachary and Maria Tague, Tyler and Toby Speake, Hunter and Kailey Rapsavage; sisters: Eunice Mayher of Auburn WA and Irma Jean Blair of Shelton, WA and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Stella, an infant daughter Nancy, sister: Rita Wheeler and brothers: Robert, Cecil and Raymond.

Funeral Service: Friday, August 14, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church - Minot.
Interment will be in Rosehill Memorial Park - Minot.
Visitation: Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church or to a special project at Apple Grove Golf Course.