Sheldon Skavlem

Sheldon T. (Shelly) Skavlem, 79, Thompson, North Dakota died April 18, 2020, at Altru Hospital, after a life-long battle of the effects of Agent Orange.

Sheldon Theodore Skavlem was born March 27, 1941 to Selmer and Ethel (Hagen) Skavlem in Grand Forks,
North Dakota. He graduated from Central High School in 1959. He married Carol F. Thompson on February 5^th, 1963, and again on December 7^th, 1968. They were blessed with their beloved son Wade.

Sheldon entered the United States Marine Corp in 1966 and served in the Heavy Artillery division in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1968. He retired from  Xcel Energy as a Natural Gas crew foreman, where he was employed for 30 years.

He was a member of the IBEW, the NRA, the National Trappers Assoc., the National Redbone Coonhound Assoc., the North American Fur Association., and the North Dakota Fur Hunters and Trappers Assoc. He was a registered trapper for the State of North  Dakota. He was honored by the American Veterans Disabled for Life, in Gratitude for his Service, in the name of Freedom and Democracy.

As a young boy he discovered guns, hunting and trapping and they became his passion in life. He enjoyed helping others develop the love of the sport. He always had Redbone  Coonhounds and loved the sound of the dogs howling once a racoon was treed. Anything to do with guns and dogs was good, especially helping countless friends sight in their guns. He was considered by his friends to be a rifle sharpshooter. He ran a large trapline for as long as his health allowed and was known as "Skinner" Skavlem. On their beloved property he planted several hundred trees and in his retirement years he loved working in their breathtaking yard, and making it look like a park, which was admired by all. He also had a small antique clock collection and loved finding shed antlers.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol, Thompson, N.D.;  Granddaughter, Candace Skavlem, great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Rayna, Ray Jr, and Jaxon, all from Grand Forks, N.D.;  brother, Russell (Mary) Skavlem, Climax, Mn.;  sisters, Mary Bachmeier, (Dean Anderson), Grand Forks, ND , and Susan Pedersen, Helena, Montana;  Brother-in-law, Kevin Thompson, Thompson, N.D.;  Sister-in laws, Adele (Jim) Cook, Sparks, NV.          and Sherryl Kvamme, Grand Forks, N.D.; Aunt Jean Skavlem, Grand Forks, N.D.;  several cousins and 10 nieces and 10 nephews.

Preceding him in death was his son Wade;  sisters Shirley and Barbara;  brothers Dennis and James;  brothers-in-law James McElroy and Harlan Thompson;  nephews Jeff Thompson, and Ralph Lyndon Jr.; parents, Selmer and Ethel Skavlem;  father and mother in-law, Frank and Serine Thompson.

Services will be held in the yard where social distancing is available, June 27, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the rural Skavlem residence, 765 6^th Ave NE, Thompson, ND and will be open to the public.