Jay Espeseth

Jay Espeseth, 75, of Bismarck, passed away on September 8, 2024, at Sanford Health, Bismarck.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Bismarck Funeral Home. Family will be receiving friends one hour prior to the service. 

Jay Erling Espeseth was born September 12th, 1948, to Arne and Gladys (Thvedt) Espeseth in Crosby, North Dakota, and brought home to the farm in Upland Township. He attended one room school and was in the 8th grade class of Highland No. 1, and graduated from Noonan High School in 1966. Jay loved sports and played baseball, football, and basketball.

As the oldest of 7, his first love was the farm and the cows. After a few years of working in the oil fields, he came back to the land and cows and never left until his health issues brought them to Bismarck. 

Jay was a charter member of the Noonan Lions Club, served as Lions District Governor for two terms, and was named A Melvin Jones Fellow. He served on the Boards of the Divide County School District, Upland Township, Glenwood Lutheran Church, Flaxton Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and Noonan Farmers Telephone Company.

Jay married Sarah Elliott on October 10, 1980, which brought Billy and Teresa to the adventure. 

You always knew when Jay was in the room because his laugh was boisterous, and his voice carried like no other. He loved to laugh and tell stories to get everyone laughing. His love for Pinochle was second to none, he played for fun, to pass the time between checking cows, as the loser had to go out to the barn, and all throughout his time in Bismarck. 

Jay is survived by his wife of 43 years Sarah; son, Billy of Noonan; daughter, Teresa (Patrick) Teske of Scranton; sister, Gloria (Roger Nies) of San Diego; brothers, Neil of Noonan, Terry of Maple Grove, MN, Ross (Celeste) of Bismarck, Skip (Sherry) of Fargo, and Arne Jr. (Jeri) New Brighton, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who have become family. 

The family would like to thank everyone who has visited and called over the years of the health decline and the Staff at Tom & Frances Leach Bismarck Dialysis Center for the wonderful care over the years.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Tom and Frances Leach Bismarck Dialysis Center Staff, 209 N 7th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 , or the Burliegh County Senior Adults Program, 315 N 20th St #4753, Bismarck, ND 58501 .