Edward Gossett

Edward “Ed” Russell Gossett peacefully left this earth to enter heaven on March 13, 2025 with his family by his side.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Bismarck Funeral Home.  Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.  

Ed was born March 23, 1926 on the family farm, five miles NE of Munich ND. He was the first born of two brothers and a sister, born to parents Olga and Ira Gossett.

After graduating from Munich High School in 1944, Ed was drafted into the army. After basic training in Fort Hood Texas, he traveled by train to San Francisco, where he boarded a troops ship for 30 days on the water, to the Philippines for more training. When the war ended in August 1945, Ed was shipped to Kiyoto Japan where he worked in the military police as an MP until his discharge in September 1946.

Ed then went to school in Milwaukee Wisconsin to learn the refrigeration and the air conditioning trade, working in that field until 1972.

Ed married the love his life, LaVerne Larson on October 22, 1951 and their marriage spanned 73 years. Together they raised three daughters and a son. They were the proud grandparents of 11 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

While raising their family, Ed and LaVerne enjoyed weekend camping trips and yearly family vacations. Their passion included traveling in their numerous motor homes through the years to various national parks, Las Vegas, Branson MO and Medora. During their travels they would spend time with the families of their daughters in Minnesota, Arizona and Colorado. When home, they loved spending time with their son and family for the holidays and many family gatherings. They also had many friends and neighbors that they enjoyed having coffee with at McDonalds and dinners at the Elks. They also enjoyed sitting in the rocking chairs on the Cracker Barrel porch after their meals.

Ed always had a strong entrepreneurial spirit, always wanting to be his own boss. To that end, he risked all and opened the first Taco John’s restaurant in Bismarck ND in December 1972. Ed and LaVerne subsequently opened 3 more stores in the Bismarck/Mandan area as well.

Ed is survived by his son, Dale (Cathy) Gossett; his three daughters; Annelle (Gene) Fahlsing, Valerie (Dean) Bondeson and ReNae Gossett; 11 grandchildren, Todd (Cyrilla) Fahlsing, Kasey (Michael) Vair, Michael (Jill) Gossett, Rachelle (Aaron) Schommer, Jenelle (Paul) Bortke, Jill (Sean) Bowling, Kelly (Kevin) Bates, Tara (Frank) Lara, Justin Gossett, Alisha Gossett, and Ty Lesmann; 22 great grandchildren, Rowan, Samuel, Jay, Kale, Ryan, Haven, Emersyn, Dru, Judson, Tanner, Greyson, Scarlette, Everett, Levi, Blake, Royce, Raya, Ford, Emilee, Hunter, Marcus, and Hudson; Sisters- in- law, Theresa (Duwayne) Fike and Caroline Wass and many nieces and nephews.

Ed was preceded in death by his loving wife, LaVerne; his parents; his brothers, Lyle and Tom; his sister, Betty Downs; brother-in-law, Ivan Downs; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Alice and Helmer Larson; brother-in-law, Robert Wass and great granddaughter, Liliana Star Bowling.