It is with sadness that we report that "Hot Lips" Lansverk passed away Saturday, November 5, 2016 at home in Minot, with his children close by.

Owen Calvin Lansverk was born on a hot August 20th day in a one-room dirt floor sod hut near Sheyenne, North Dakota in 1925. Or at least that's what he periodically would tell his children. Those little teasing jests continued throughout his life, as daughter Deb and granddaughter Eryn would attest, saying these little jokes were always obvious because of "the twinkle in his eyes."

Owen was a Minot transplant, who followed a long and arduous trail that only a farmer with a single-horse plow could appreciate. He was born into a 100-percent Norwegian farming family in Grandfield Township, Eddy County, near Sheyenne. His father, Oscar C. Lansverk, and his mother, Carrie Marie (nee Berge) Lansverk, welcomed Owen as the first of three boys who would help plow what little dirt they could find between the glacial boulders deposited in the region once overlain by Lake Agassiz many thousands of years ago.

Owen attended a one-room school "three miles uphill both ways" from the farm. "Sometimes, but not often, we rode horseback to school. But Dad's horses were big plodding farm horses that didn't provide the most comfortable seating arrangement" Owen said. Without a twinkle in his eyes. Eventually Owen's father and mother realized they could do better for themselves, their three boys, and their farming community if Oscar were to become the Secretary-Treasurer of a Co-op creamery in Devils Lake. Their stay in Devils Lake was only three or four years, but it was during that time the legend of "Hot Lips" began to take shape. Like father, like son, Owen picked up his father's coronet one day, looked over at "Dad's violin," and decided the "brass looked much nicer than a hunk of wood with strings on it. So trumpet it was."

Around 1938-39, Oscar was named the Secretary-Treasurer of the Ward County Farmers Union and Owen finally arrived in Minot, along with the rest of the family. Shortly after that, Owen met his future wife although he didn't realize it until later since he dated her sister, Donna, before he ever dated Betty. Betty, was known in high school as "Twinkle Toes." Betty danced to the music Owen provided with his "Hot Lipped" trumpet.

Then all hell broke loose World War II. Owen enlisted in June of 1943 as a member of the United States Navy V-12 program, attending college, earning credit, and at the same time training to a become pilot for the Naval Air Corps. We are ever thankful for Dad's trouble with trigonometry at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN. That course kept him out of the sky and semi-safe on the battleship USS New Jersey . On the ship he was introduced to a new-fangled warning system call radar. Owen was promoted to the newly formed Combat Information Center (CIC), where he excelled at writing backwards on clear glass plotting Japanese ships, planes, and transports, to provide Admiral "Bull" Halsey and his combat officers' real-time combat information. Owen was honorably discharged May 27, 1946 as a Seaman First Class, having earned numerous battle and service awards and ribbons. Following the excitement of the South Pacific, he also spent time in Tokyo aboard the USS New Jersey after Japan's surrender.

Following his WWII tour, he returned to North Dakota and completed his music and business education at the University of North Dakota with the class of 1948. Returning to Minot, he soon earned the role of "first call" trumpet player in the Musician's Union. He played numerous gigs with the likes of Ringling Bros. or Barnum & Bailey Circus, Ice Capades, etc. In addition, "Hot Lips" Lansverk played with the Minot Elks Club Concert Band and Elks Big Band Dance Band for over 45 years.

Shortly after college, Owen asked Betty Freeh, sister of Donna Freeh, if she might like to go out. They had been high school classmates and neighbors. She did. They did. They fell in love and married on his parents' anniversary, November 1, 1948, at First Lutheran Church, putting a twinkle into "Twinkle Toes" eyes and his eyes.

The following year they packed up their one-year old son and moved to Crosby, North Dakota, where Owen began his 42-year career representing and managing North Dakota Farmers Union Insurances. Owen saved his first weekly pay check with the notation, "my first pay check from NDFU Insurances, a big deal!" How much did an insurance agent make in a month in 1950? $3.06.

While living in Crosby, both Owen and Betty were involved with Concordia Lutheran Church, singing with the choir, performing in community stage productions, and playing couples-golf on sand greens. Owen also served as the President of the Crosby Loyal Order of Moose and began a life-long association with both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Owen, Betty and their two children, Ron and Debbie, moved back to Minot in 1959 and never left. He first joined Oscar in his father's Farmers Union Insurance's Agency and within two years was appointed District Manager of District III - NW North Dakota a position he held until his retirement in 1992. Owen and Betty's third child, Amy (Brandt) Lansverk, was born in October of 1961, rounding out the typical American family.

Following his retirement, knowing he couldn't sit still for more than 15 minutes, he worked as a courtesy van driver for Westlie Motors. If Uber or Lyft had been around, Owen would have been first in line for that opportunity. Owen also found great joy in helping other senior citizens with their annual tax gift to Uncle Sam, as an AARP tax volunteer.

As life and age began to diminish Betty's sight and hearing, Owen became her primary caregiver. For the next fifteen years or so, Owen never left Betty's side. He took seriously those 1948 vows "in sickness and health," to be her companion, comfort, and caregiver. As happens for all of us mortal beings, there comes a time when our purposes on earth come to a close. After Betty died 19 days earlier, Owen's last purpose came to a close. He had done well, and it was time to be reunited with Betty.

Owen is survived by : son Ron (Dana K. Smith) Lansverk, White Bear Lake, MN, and Amy (Brandt) Lansverk, Minot; step-daughter Peggy (Russ) Stai; brother Duane (Peggy), Vancouver, WA and sister-in-law Carol (Frost) Lansverk, Plant City, FL. His five grandchildren will miss Owen's Norwegian prayer at meals, his teasing, and his kisses: Joe (Kim) Schmalz, Minot; Casey (Wendy) Graves, Minot; Jameson and Justin Brandt, Minot; Eryn Lansverk, White Bear Lake, MN; and two great grandchildren, Jillian and Madeline Schmalz.

Preceding Owen in death were: parents, Oscar and Marie Lansverk, daughter, Debra Kay Schmalz Graves Lansverk; brother, Norman Lansverk of Florida; brother-in-law Owen Arthur Esterby; sister-in-law Donna (Freeh) Esterby; eleven aunts and one uncle; and his four-legged buddy, Benji.

Celebration of Life service: 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 14 at First Lutheran Church in Minot, with a reception to follow at the church Parish Center. Pastor Ken Nelson will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Owen's life.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: There will be a time to visit with the family Sunday at the Thomas Family Funeral Home on Main Street, Minot, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials in Owen's name are preferred to the Meniere Disease Foundation, Alzheimer's Disease Foundation, First Lutheran Church (Minot, ND), or a charity of your choice.

Taps has sounded for Owen Lansverk and reveille is sounding as he arrives in Heaven.