Mass of Christian Burial for Walter Gion, 88, of Regent, ND will be Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Henry's Catholic Church in Regent. His grandson, Fr. Chad Gion will officiate along with Fr. Charles Zins and his son, Deacon Donald Gion. Burial will follow at the Regent Cemetery. Visitations will be from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22 at the St. Henry's Catholic Church in Regent, with a Rosary/Vigil service to follow at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established by the family.


Walter Gion's celebration of life concluded on January 18, 2007 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Mott, ND at the age of 88 years. Walter was born near Regent, ND on September 1, 1918 to Albert and Anna (Kilzer) Gion. He grew up on the family farm. Walter's vocation was serving his family, church and community. He was a successful farmer. His public services included serving on the Farina Township Board, Farmers Equity Board and was a 25 year member of the Regent School Board, where he played a key role in the public school consolidation. Walter's dedications included: St. Henry's Trustee and co-chairman of the church building committee, St. Mary's Foundation Board, Diocesan School Board and Council and the Good Samaritan Nursing Home Advisory Board. Walter was a director and stockholder of the American State Bank and was the CEO of the New England Branch. He was actively involved in the Men's Club at St. Henry's Church, the Knights of Columbus as a Fourth Degree Knight, was a member of the Sodbuster's Saddle Club and was also a member of the Elk's.

In his leisure time, Walter enjoyed family, traveling, golfing, reading and socializing with friends. As a self-educated man, he once stated, "This is a good time to be on this earth; I farm some of the best land at a time when farming is at its best, raise a family we are proud of, serve our church and community as best we could and live amongst the best neighbors on earth."


Walter is survived by his wife, Irene; three sons, Donald (Bonnie), Duane (Aurel) and Dennis (Rochelle); three daughters, Kathleen (Charles) Lehmann, Denise (Glenn) Fairbank and Janelle (Philbert) Gonzales; 21 grandchildren, Giselle and Christopher Lehmann, Father Chad Gion, Shelly, Gason, Jeffrey, Troy, Paul, Joel, Sarah, Sammy, Mark, Joleen, Richard and Christian Gion, Ana Roberts, Jacob Fairbank, Quint, Condia, Alia and Carlos Gonzales; two great-grandchildren, Sonja Gion and Christian Lehmann; two sisters, Irene Link and Josephine Gion and three brothers, Edward, Alois and Richard. Walter was preceded in death by his parents, two children, Claudia and Eugene and one brother, Robert.