Curtis Leroy Loucks, at the age of 94 years and 10 months, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, became one with the Lord and nature on Friday, November 13, 2015 at his workshop in Rugby, North Dakota.  Born to Mamie (Hodem) and Alonzo Loucks on January 13, 1921 in LaMoure, North Dakota. 

He had filleted his last fish, harvested and enjoyed the bounty of his garden and plucked his last Canada goose.  Thanksgiving 2015 was on his mind as he, daughter Laurie, granddaughter, Monique and grandson Carlan would be celebrating together and enjoying that LAST CANADA GOOSE!  They had figured out their menu and were already gathering the fixings for the meal.  However, this Thanksgiving will find the family members gathering with one less person at the table, but sharing memories of Grandpa Curtis and enjoying the food and time together as he would have insisted upon.

Reared on the family farm home of his parents northeast of LaMoure, Curtis attended a country school near his home and graduated from LaMoure High School in 1937.  He enrolled and attended North Dakota State University in 1938 taking classes as he could while continuing to farm.  He graduated from NDSU in the spring of 1948 earning a Bachelor of Science degree and accepted a position U.S. Soil Conservation Service in Langdon, North Dakota.  On June 26, 1948 he was united in marriage to Joyce Elaine Strand in Lisbon, North Dakota.  The couple made their home in Langdon until 1957 when he transferred to Rugby, assuming the position as the District Conservationist for Pierce County.  He officially retired in 1979.  Not one to stand still, after retiring he joined the Volunteers in Service to America for the next 3 years as an advisor to the Small Farmer Assistance Program in Pierce and McHenry Counties.  He also did volunteer work for the Pierce County Soil Conservation District and the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Curtis was instrumental in the establishment of the Lutheran Brotherhood Branch # 8485 for the Rugby and surrounding area, serving as branch president for several years and served in many governing board position for the Benson County Credit Union.  He was active in several area Wildlife Clubs, a founding member and first president of the Rugby Gun Club, a life member of the Rugby Volunteer Fire Department, a life member of the National Rifle Association and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, assisted in the development of the Pierce County Rural Water System enjoyed competing in the ND indoor small bore rifle competitions held around the state.  He also enjoyed his membership at Bethany Lutheran Church in Rugby, serving on the Board of Deacons, the Stewardship and Trust fund Committees.

Curtis’ greatest love and happiness was the companionship and love of his wife, special festivities with family, along with hunting, fishing and gardening.  He felt he was closest to his Lord and Savior when he was comingling with the wondrous things of nature that God had created for the world.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Joyce of Rugby; one son, Brian of Minot; three daughters, LaNeta (Gordon) Pieterick of Rugby, Wendy (Paul Hendrickson) Loucks of Fargo and Laurie Loucks of Dunseith; 4 grandchildren, Raymond & Carlan Pieterick, Krag Domis & Monique Belgarde; 2 great-grandchildren, Evan Domis & Mason Pieterick, other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers, Leslie, Henry & Calvin Loucks and 3 sisters, Anna Gjesvold, Florence Sandness and Nettie Smith.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Persilla Watts Cemetery in Rugby.  Memorial services will be held in the Spring of 2016.  Reverend Nathan Steen, officiate.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.