Obituary of Chester Fossum

Chester (Chet) Fossum, 86, Minnetonka MN, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2015. Chester was born to Minnick and Gussty (Lewison) Fossum in rural Maxbass, ND, on July 9, 1928. He married Loretta Herviean Hunt in “The Little Brown Church in the Vale”, in Nashua, IA, on November 2, 1950. After their marriage, Chester continued his responsibilities of farming the family farm near Maxbass, ND until 1967 at which time he and his family moved to Minot, ND. Chester and Loretta moved to Williston, ND in 1980. They moved to Beacon Hill Senior Living in Minnetonka, MN in 2012. As a young man, Chester was involved in many civic organizations and remained current and enjoyed discussing these topics through his entire life. He was a member of the Maxbass School Board from 1955 to 1967, ten years in the capacity of Chairman, during which time he coordinated the building of the new Maxbass Public School. He was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1958 and served 10 years, with his last terms representing the Republican Party as the Minority Floor Leader in the State House of Representatives. He was elected to the City Counsel of Williston ND in 1984, and served as Mayor of Williston from 1986 to 1990, during a difficult time of re-organizing city infrastructure after an oil boom period. At the age of sixty-four, Chester was able to fulfill a live long dream of completing his college degree in 1992 when he graduated from the University of North Dakota in Williston with an Associate Degree. He had started college 44 years earlier and completed one semester at Minot State College, before returning to operate the family farm upon the death of his father. Chester’s working years included a variety of occupations. Farming was his original passion where he helped pioneer soil conservation/irrigation strategies through the Bottineau County Extension Agents office and planted over 30 miles of One Row Shelter Belts on the family farm. He was a business owner of a Ford Implement Dealership in Minot and a Skelly Truck Stop in Williston. During his later years, he held multiple sales positions where he sold heavy equipment, oil field supplies and fleet maintenance services. Throughout his entire life…a crisp discussion of Current Events, Local Government and National Politics were his favorite conversational topics. He remained committed to a life of learning and pioneering new ideas until his last days. His constant influence of self improvement and continued education were an influence to not only his immediate family but also for many others that he came in contact with. Chester is survived by his wife, Loretta H. Fossum; son, Stanley (Dee) Fossum of Aurora, CO; son Dean (Debra) Fossum of Reynolds, ND; daughter Burdell Fossum of Plymouth, MN; son Clyde (Rhonda) Fossum of Alpharetta, GA; son Sheldon (Nancy) Fossum of Plymouth, MN; 10 Grandchildren, and 9 Great Grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother-in-law, Leon (Ramona) Nicholsen, Indianapolis. He was preceded in death by daughter Twila, grandson Dustin, grandson-in-law Cameron (Rienk), three brothers and six sisters. Memorial Service: Saturday, May 30, 2015…Visitation at 2 p.m. followed by the service at 3 p.m. at Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7835 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55445 (763-560-3100).