Walter E. Sokolofsky, lifelong Carson farmer and rancher, passed away Sunday, September 23, at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck at the age of 82 years, 5 months, 13 days.


The celebration of Walter's life will be held at 10:30am Thursday, September 27, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Carson with Pastor John Amundson and Pastor Ken Trana officiating. Final resting place will be in the Carson Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Janice Steinmetz, organist and Tana Zimmerman, pianist.


Serving as Honorary Casketbearers are Wilmer Steinley, Ervin Diehl, Matt Schaff, Harlan Steinley, John Wollman, and Don Price. Active Casketbearer's are his grandchildren and their spouses, Chad and Chris Hoerner, Marcy and Ivan Alyea, Tabatha and Tim Fletcher, Whitney Ruscheinsky, Heidi and Terry Allbee, and Nathan Rodgers.


Walter was born April 10, 1925 at Mountain Lake, MN to David Sr. and Marie (Heinitz) Sokolofsky. As an infant, his parents moved the family to a homestead north of Carson. He attended Sunny Slope School through grade eight. He then had to quit school to take care of the family farm. At the age of 20, he started farming on his own.


On September 25, 1949, he was united in marriage to Garnet Heil and to this union three daughters were born. In 1954, he purchased his farm north of Heil where he lived and raised his family. In 2004, the Sokolofsky's moved into Carson. Walter never considered himself retired.


Walter served as a Grant County Commissioner for two terms. His greatest accomplishment during that time was securing a grant for the rebuilding of the courthouse in Carson. As a county commissioner, Walter served on many boards and committee's including the Lewis & Clark RC & D, and the Social Service Board. He also served as Director of the Grant County State Bank for several years.


Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Garnet; 3 daughters, Sandra (Gerald) Hoerner, Carson, ND; Sharon (Roger) Ruscheinsky, Jamestown, ND; Valerie (Jim) Rodgers, Carson, ND; 6 grandchildren, Chad (Chris) Hoerner; Marcy (Ivan) Alyea, Tabatha (Tim) Fletcher, Whitney Ruscheinsky, Heidi (Terry) Allbee, and Nathan Rodgers; 9 great grandchildren-soon to be 11; 1 sister, Stella Curry, Marshall, MN; 2 brothers, David Sokolofsky Jr., Carson, ND; and Donald (Joyce) Sokolofsky, Vallard, MN; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.


He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Victor, 2 sisters, Rosella in infancy, and Lydia Schriock; and granddaughter, Kari Jo.