Myron Lodoen
Westhope
Myron Wayne Lodoen was born on May 24, 1948, in Bottineau to Clarence and Hazel (Acheson) Lodoen. He was the youngest of three brothers. During his childhood, Myron was very active in 4-H, crop judging, showing cattle, sports and music. He graduated with honors from Westhope High School in 1966. He then attended the Bottineau School of Forestry and played basketball for the Lumberjacks. Myron continued his education at North Dakota State University in agriculture before heading back to Westhope to begin his farming and ranching career.
On Nov. 26, 1972, Myron married Patricia "Patty" Henry of Newburg. They had known each other their whole lives as Myron's older brother had married Patty's older sister. They moved to the same family farmstead where Myron grew up and still resided until his last day. Together, they raised three children; Emmy, Dustin and Danen. Family vacations revolved around showing cattle, looking at cattle or attending bull sales. Many weeks were also spent at the State Fair and various other fairs and cattle shows. Myron loved the Westhope Sioux and rarely missed events that his kids were in. In later years, he started following his grandkids and became an avid Edgeley Rebels fan.
Myron loved cattle, especially his Herefords, and all of his cattle friends. Myron and his brother Leonard raised registered horned Herefords together for many years and later Red Angus. Despite his declining health in later years, he still loved hauling cattle and made countless trips to Minot, Rugby, Mandan and Napoleon livestock auctions.
He was a very proud and active member of his community. He served on various boards, including the Bottineau County Fair Board, Farmers Union Board, the Sioux Boosters and the Rural Fireman's Board. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a trustee and was an active member of the "Men's Club." He also coached pee-wee basketball and took credit for their future success.
Myron has always been known to help others before himself, as he was a genuine "people person." Strangers became friends to Myron very quickly, and he was a counselor to many. He was a jokester at heart and loved stirring the pot with politics. Myron reminded his family that he had the fastest reflexes in Bottineau County, could beat anyone in leg wrestling and that he was the "planners." "Grandpa Moo" will be remembered for his love of cattle, his plaid pajama pants, delivering baked goods, his stashed of Salted Nut Rolls, his big heart and for the trail of newspapers that he always left behind him