Lloyd LeVerne Calkins, 72, rural Velva died on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in a Minot hospital from injuries sustained in a fall.

Lloyd was born on December 1, 1935 in Watford City, North Dakota to Asy and Gladys (Maloney) Calkins. He was reared and educated in Watford City and graduated from Watford City High School in 1953. He entered the U.S. Army in March of 1956.

Lloyd married Virginia Harms on June 6, 1956 in Moorhead, Minnesota. They lived in Georgia for a few months where he attended radio repair school for the Army. Then, he served in Korea for 16 months. Following his honorable discharge they resided in Tacoma, Washington where their daughter was born and he owned and operated Calkins Shell/ Lloyd's American Service for 35 years. In addition, he was a seasonal farmer on the Harms' family farm south of Velva, ND for many years. Following the sale of that business he and Virginia moved to the farm near Velva in the Spring of 1994 where he continued to assist on the family farm, eventually assuming sole responsibility for its operation. He had a severe stroke in March of 2007.

Lloyd was a member of the Calvary Alliance Church- Minot and a former member of the Tacoma Alliance Church. He was an active member of Gideons International, served as Brillian Township Supervisor and was a former member of the Elks Lodge in Tacoma. He especially enjoyed gardening and sharing the word of God.

Lloyd's loving family includes his wife of 52 years Virginia; daughter: Cheryl (Clayton) Conatzer of Chandler, AZ; grandchildren: Teresa Forcier, Katrina (Joseph) Singleton and Jesse Clemens; great grandchildren: Brandon Auran and Kira Lee Clemens; sisters: Jessie Mikkelson of Minot, Madeline Miller and Frances Paisley both of Tobacco Garden, ND, Oma Hebert of Larimore, ND, Connie Reiman of Watford City, ND, Mary Ann Jay of Gilbert, AZ; and brothers, Arnold of Killdeer, Everett of Eagle River, AK and Eugene of Alaska and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Donna Walker, Etheleen Knight and Beulah Cundruf and brothers: Wallace and Darwin.

Funeral Service: Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in Calvary Alliance Church - Minot.
Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens - Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
In lieu of plants and flowers memorials are preferred to Gideons International.