Wallace Fossum

Wallace V. "Wally" Fossum, 85, Bismarck, died October 8, 2003, at his home following a lengthy illness. Services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Steve Sathre officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck, with military rites provided by VFW Post 1326. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 9:00 PM Friday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue for one hour prior to the services at the church. Wally was born April 3, 1918, at Walcott, ND, to John A. and Olga Satermo Fossum. He was raised on the family farmstead near Christine, was baptized and confirmed at South Pleasant Lutheran Church, and graduated from Pleasant Consolidated in 1935. He continued his education at North Dakota Agricultural College and Interstate Business College in Fargo. From 1937 to 1942 Wally was employed by Monson Contracting, operating heavy equipment while building state and federal highways in North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota. He married Alice Westrum of Clearbrook, Minnesota, on December 24, 1941, at Shevlin, Minnesota. He then joined the Army Enlisted Reserves and studied at Wahpeton State College of Science, the University of North Dakota, and the University of California-Davis. While on active duty in World War II, Wally served with the Signal Corps in New Guinea, the Philippine Islands, and Japan. He was honorably discharged on December 31, 1945. In 1946 Wally, Alice, and daughter Sandy moved to Bismarck where Wally became a partner in the Monson Contracting Company. In 1961 he formed the Wallace V. Fossum Construction Company. From 1946 to 1985 it is estimated that he built about 80% of the graded streets in Bismarck as well as developing sites for housing subdivisions, commercial and government projects, soil conservation areas, and golf courses. Wally?s wife Alice died on January 25, 1981. He married Selma Boyd of Bismarck on October 4, 1986. They enjoyed retirement by spending winters in Mesa, Arizona, where Wally pursued his love of golf. Wally was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving on the Board of Deacons, the Board of Trustees, and as president of the congregation. He was also a member of the Sons of Norway, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Elks. He will be greatly missed by his wife Selma; daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Greg Stofer, Burnsville, Minnesota; grandson Kevin and his wife Alyse Stofer, Woodbury, Minnesota; and granddaughter Kellie Stofer, Prior Lake, Minnesota. Also missing Wally will be Selma?s daughter and son-in-law Donna and Ron Becker, Bismarck; her son Dennis Boyd, Bismarck; her six grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. Wally was preceded in death by his parents Olga and John A. Fossum, wife Alice, brothers Paul Fossum and Lemar Fossum, and sister Hazel Sullivan.

Wallace Fossum

April 3, 1918 - October 8, 2003