Funeral services for John Rafteseth, age 68, of Elgin, will be 10:30am Saturday, July 29, at Hope Congregational Church in Elgin. Pastor Ellis Ryherd will officiate with burial in Hope Congregational Cemetery.

Special music will be provided by Donna Wiens, pianist and the Men's Quartet.

Serving as casketbearers are Ron Bartz, Ronnie Eisenbarth, Melvin Bruhn, Ervin Bachmann, Jay Moser, and Rod Skretteberg. All family and friends are considered honorary bearers.

A memorial has been established.

JOHN HAROLD RAFTESETH was born June 14, 1938 at Elgin, ND to Harold Joel Palmer and Ruth Esther Elizabeth (Johnson) Rafteseth. He attended rural school near his home 15 miles south of Elgin in the Pretty Rock community and graduating from Elgin Public High School in 1955. John drove truck and farmed with his father. In 1958, he married and had one son Corey.

In 1964, he married Sharon Holle of New Salem. Three sons were born to this union, Travis in 1965, Troy in 1968, and Bandon in 1974. Following the death of his father on July 31, 1986, John continued ranching and operating the family farm until the time of his death. John was diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and has been battling it since. He left his family and friends behind on July 26, 2006 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin.

John was a member of Hope Congregational Church and served on the Board Of The North Dakota Wheat Commission and on the Farmers Union Board.

He enjoyed bowling for many years, but especially loved hunting and fishing with his sons and many friends.

John is survived and will be missed by many including his wife Sharon of 42 years, 4 sons and their wives; Corey; Travis (Sherri), of Elgin; Troy (Stacey), Wesley Chapel, FL; Brandon (Melanie), Elgin, ND; 9 grandchildren; Tanner, Taylor, Tyler, Trevor, Tate, Shawna, Logan, Austyn, and Ethan; 1 sister and brother-in-law, Darlene and Lester Nicklaus, Elgin, ND.

His parents, 2 brothers-in-law, Floyd Bickel, and Delmar Kramer, and 1 sister-in-law, Audrey Kramer preceded him in death.