24 Feb Orville V. Speten

Orville V. Speten, 101, Wilton, ND passed away peacefully at his home on February 22, 2021.

A public visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm on Friday, February 26, 2021 at the Bismarck Funeral Home. A private family service will be held on Saturday at Sunne Lutheran Church. A livestream of the Service will be available on the Bismarck Funeral Home and Sunne Lutheran Facebook page.

Orville was born on a farmstead east of Wilton on November 23, 1919 to Henry H. and Hannah (Backman) Speten.  He was the last living sibling of 13 children.  He attended rural school of Ecklund #4 and moved into Wilton in 1945.  He has been a Wilton resident all his life.

On November 18, 1943, Orville married the love of his life Iva Luey at First Lutheran Church in Bismarck.  They were blessed with 7 children.  Orville & his brother owned Speten’s Fairway until January 1, 1974 when he sold his share & started farming fulltime. He “retired” at the age of 65 but what farmer really retires!

Orville was dedicated to the community of Wilton.  He served as Sunne Lutheran Church treasurer, Wilton Fire Department secretary/treasurer and fire chief, Wilton City Commissioner, President of Get Together Club, Director of Farm Bureau, and a lifetime member of the Elks Club.  Orville took pride in knowing he was the longest living resident of Wilton.  He was also the longest living baptized member of Sunne Lutheran Church in which his grandfather helped build. Orville was an avid bowler and bowled a perfect 300 game in Wing, ND on March 8, 1962.  He bowled 17 strikes in a row that day.  He lived life to the fullest with the motto “Use It or Lose It”.  Music was a big part of Orville’s life.  He couldn’t read a note, but he entertained his family as well as many others throughout the community with his musical talents including the keyboard, guitar & harmonica, and accordion.  In 2015, he was featured in Cliff Naylor’s Off the Beaten Path where he was known as the Piano Man.

Orville will be deeply missed by his three sons and three daughters; Jim (Donna) Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Karen (Erv) Mund, Bismarck, Gary (Kathy) Speten, Wilton, Carol Joersz, Mandan, Lynette (Scott) Clausen, Wilton, Rod Speten, Wilton. 12 grandchildren; Chris (Renae), David (Julia), Alison, Jenni (Doug), Angela, Bob (Tara), Kayla, Nathan (Hayley), Troy (Emily), Kari (Dustin), Dave (Sarah), Rachel (Nathan); and 26 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Iva, of 69 years, one infant son Joel, his parents, and 12 siblings.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sunne Cemetery Fund, PO Box 217, Wilton, ND 58579.

To view the funeral service, please click here.