Dennis Zerface, 64, Garrison, died on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at the Benedictine Living Center in Garrison. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 am at the First Congregational Church in Garrison. Burial will be at the Garrison City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Monday from 3 to 7 at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison.
Dennis LeRoy Zerface was born November 8, 1953 to Glenn and Edith (Kracht) Zerface in Garrison, ND. He grew up in Garrison where he started his explorations. He graduated from Garrison High School and continued his education at Minot State University with a degree in Biology. He worked at the Red Owl while in school and had various jobs before starting at Falkirk Mine in 1978 as a heavy equipment operator, mostly running a dozer. He worked at the mine for 32 years until health reasons forced him on disability in 2010. Dennis was once married to Cyndy Nygaard. They had two children, Sonja and Derek. He later met and married Jean Forsman and quadrupled his family!
Dennis was very active in the community and his church. He was always quick to lend a hand to the Lion's Club, Boy Scouts, and his favorite arts council-SACA. He enjoyed acting and singing in many SACA plays and in the Dicken's play. He played Scrooge numerous times and enjoyed the many friends he met. Dennis also liked to go hiking with his church family and told stories of their adventures. He was also a member of the Vagabond singing group while as MSU.
In January 2016, Dennis was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia; a cruel and aggressive disease. Throughout his illness he proudly kept his big smile! Dennis was a kind and gentle man and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and community.
Dennis leaves behind the many people that love him; his wife, Jean; mother, Edith (Kracht) Zerface; sister, Glenda (Les) Korgel; all of Garrison; children, Sonja (Shawn) Diffely, Garrison; Derek Zerface, Fargo; stepchildren, Mandie (Carter) Medalen, Rugby, Stefanie (Anthony) Williamson, Omaha, Neb., Shawn (Holly) Forsman, Burlington, Michelle Forsman, Minot; grandchildren, Bree and Lexi Diffely, Tiffany, Kristi, and Helen Medalen, and Jack and Sylvia Williamson; niece, Kerry (Paul) Fetzer, nephew, Greg Korgel, special niece, Alyssa Krueger, father and mother-in-law, Arnold and Rita Reimers;and his in-laws, Mark Reimers, Aaron Reimers, Julie (Ross) Krueger, Sandra (Mike Wells) Bauer, Susan ( Jerry) Thomas, Kerri (Roy) Ring, Maria (Shane) Beach, Lori (Jason) Graves, Dana (Rod) Keene, Tracy (Stephanie) Dockter, Jeff (Shari) Dockter, and (Tom Davina) Dockter.
He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to SACA in Garrison.