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Funeral services for Craig B. Oksol, 55, a longtime Williston insurance agent and current president of Manger Insurance, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, at First Lutheran Church, Williston. The Rev. Chris Swarthout, of New Hope Wesleyan Church and the Rev. Ben Loven, of First Lutheran Church will officiate and interment will be at Riverview Cemetery.
Craig Byron Oksol was born to Carl H. and Ruth (Flessner) Oksol in Williston on Sept. 28, 1955. He was raised in Williston in a family with five siblings and was raised at First Lutheran Church. He attended Wilkinson Elementary and graduated from Williston High School in 1973. Craig continued his education first locally at UND-Williston for two years of general studies and then he continued his education at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks where he earned his B.S. degree in business.
After his formal education, Craig returned to Williston, where he stepped into the business of his father, Carl H. Oksol at Manger Insurance; here he found his niche in serving the insurance needs of many in northwest North Dakota and northeast Montana. His career would span 34 years at Manger Insurance. Craig and his sister, Karla Osborn, purchased the stock of the closely held family business in 1999 and Craig took on the role of president. This vocation allowed him to serve others and during the ebb and flow of his time at Manger, many people in Williston and the surrounding communities were thankful for years of insurance coverage and the peace of mind he brought to business owners. Craig was well respected in the community and in the insurance arena.
Craig believed in Williston and this greater area and he helped in the community’s growth by serving on many area boards. He served faithfully and with a calming presence. Some of the benefactors of Craig’s time were the Mercy Hospital Board and Williston State College Foundation Board. He was an active member of the Local Rotary Club, a past Rotary Club president, and he truly lived by their motto: Service above Self. Craig is also a past Toastmaster and gave back to his vocation of insurance by serving in many capacities with the local and state insurance associations.
After being reintroduced at their 30th high school class reunion, Craig was united in marriage to Kathryn Larson of Williston on Feb. 4, 2006. To this union, two daughters entered his life, Vanessa and Victoria whom Craig adopted. Craig cherished life and his family and friends every opportunity that he could. He especially loved taking drives in the country where the wide open prairies always unveiled something new. Craig enjoyed hunting, riding his motorcycle, horseback riding, singing (especially with the Dublin Boys), reading a good book, canoeing or hiking the North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Craig also loved spending time with his close-knit Bible study group from New Hope Wesleyan Church and traveling to areas of interest such as Jamaica, Portugal, China and his favorite place to visit, New York City. Had Craig survived, his new mission in life was to spread the Gospel of salvation through his Savior Jesus Christ.
Craig leaves to mourn his early departure his wife, Kathryn, and daughters, Vanessa (Matthew) Massey and Victoria Bastian, all of Williston; his father, Carl H. Oksol and mother, Ruth Oksol; brother, Bruce (May) Oksol, San Antonio, Texas and their children, Kiri (Josh) Nevin and Laura Oksol; sister, Yvonne (Terry) Braun, West Fargo and their children, Eric (Alicia) Braun and Jennifer (Greg) Poziembo; sister, Karla (Bob) Osborn, Williston and their son, Rob (Toby) Osborn; sister, Kathy Oksol, Tucson, Ariz., and her children, Anna and Sophie Ochoa-Lions and sister, Jan (Dave) Greenwald, Portland, Ore., and their boys, Cameron and Connor; his mother-in-law, Gwen Larson; his sisters-in-law, Marilynn Baker, Judy Nevell and Janet Melugin and several great-nieces and nephews.
Craig peacefully passed away on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn., where he received the best possible care and had the loving support of his wife and family at his side. He was able to live long enough to again wish his bride of almost six years a happy birthday!
Craig was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.
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