Lewis B. Dodgson

Lewis B. Dodgson, age 73, resident of rural Lakota, ND, died accidentally on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at his farm home.

Lewis, the son of Ben and Barbara (Schall) Dodgson, was born July 17, 1937 at Lakota by Dr. Lawbar who charged 3 kids for $100. The hospital was later a nursing home, then a private home, then the law office of Doug Manbeck. Lewis lived on the farm home with his parents until age 11, then he lived with his foster parents, Mr. & Mrs. Aron Howser, who lived near his parents. He graduated from Lakota High School in 1957. He then worked construction for a year before moving to St. Paul, MN. He worked as an Operator Engineer, running heavy equipment (bulldozer) until January of 1961. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving 2 years with the 149 th Engineering Battalion. He was honorably discharged in 1963 with the rank of SP5/E-5. He then returned to construction in St. Paul until the flood of 1965. He then returned to North Dakota working on construction of the missile wing. In the spring of 1966 he accepted an overseas job, working in Vietnam for 18 months. He returned to construction in Minneapolis and attended the Dunwoody Institute for 2 years, studying highway surveying and engineering. He continued construction work as a Forman Operator and Superintendent until 1980. He moved back to the farm in North Dakota that he purchased in 1978. He farmed for 18 years and made nothing. He raised wheat, barley, corn, hay, and 100 black angus until 1996. He sold the cattle, rented the land, and went back to construction until he retired.

Lewis is survived by his mother, Barbara Dodgson of Devils Lake; 6 sisters, Lois Johnson Weight of Michigan, ND, JoAnn Munro of North Bend, WA, Bernadine Anderson of Battle Lake, MN, Betty Ness of Devils Lake, Inez Bartlett of Snoqualmie, WA, and Donna Wilcox of Starkweather; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ben; and his brother, Edward.

The Funeral Service will be held at Lakota Lutheran Church on Monday, July 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Becky Horn. The organist will be Karen Fowler. Interment will be in the Lakota Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Rundell-Holicky American Legion Post #21 of Lakota and the ND Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.

Arrangements with the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota