Haakon Arvid Thunshelle, 95, Minot and formerly of Plaza, died on Monday, August 1, 2011 in a Minot hospital.

Haakon was born on April 28, 1916 in Osloe Township of Mountrail County near Plaza, ND to Petter and Anna (Iverson) Thunshelle. He attended rural school through the eighth grade at Baldy School and graduated from Plaza High School in 1935. During the Great Depression years of 1936 and 1937, he and six others, rode the freight train to Washington and worked in the apple harvesting industry near Wenatchee/Omak for two seasons and he was paid 37 - 42 cents an hour.

Haakon returned to North Dakota in 1940 and began farming with his father. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and after receiving a medical discharge he returned to the family farm.

Haakon was united in marriage to Myrtle Quie on November 1, 1953 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot, ND. They made their home on a different farm they purchased in 1954 in Osloe Township where they raised small grains until they retired in 1982. They moved to Minot in 1986, but would spend the summer months at the farm and some time in Arizona during the winter. They moved to Somerset Court in 2001.

Haakon was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church rural Plaza until it closed in 1975; then, became a member of First Lutheran Church Plaza where he served on the church board. In addition, he was a member of the Plaza School Board, Osloe Township Board, Plaza Development Corporation, Plaza American Legion Post, Plaza Senior Citizens, Sons of Norway and was an associate member of Christ Lutheran Church both in Minot.

Haakon and Myrtle enjoyed their travels to Hawaii, Norway, Alaska, Canada, Washington D.C. and the Spokane, WA World Fair as well as bus tours to the New England states, southeastern U.S. and southwestern U.S.

Haakey dearly loved and was very proud of his five grandchildren. He enjoyed watching their music and sports in person or by video.

Haakon's loving family includes his wife of 57 years Myrtle; son: Terry (Shereen) Thunshelle of Bismarck and their children: Josiah (Carrie), Kristen, Kelsi, and Jared Thunshelle; son: Calvin Thunshelle of Phoenix, AZ and his son, Connor; sister: Ida Weber of Tempe, AZ, sisters-in-law, Joyce Thunshelle, Plaza, ND and Lorraine Quie, Williston, ND, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Edmund, sisters, Petra, Bertina, and Gladys, brothers-in-law: Fred Strassberg, Lester Quie, Clarence Erickson, Dick Spalding, and Ervin Weber and nephews Donnie and Rollie Strassberg.

Funeral service : Saturday August 6, 2011 at 11: 00 a.m. in First Lutheran Church, Plaza, ND.

Interment : East Plaza Cemetery near Plaza, ND.

Visitation: Friday from 2:00-7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to Camp of the Cross Garrison or First Lutheran Church Plaza.

Those wishing to sign the online memorial register or share memories are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at ().