Betty Dunford

Betty E. Dunford, age 87, of Fargo, ND died on Thursday, November 24, at Sanford Palliative Care in Fargo following a stoic battle against pancreatic cancer.   Betty was born on August 9, 1929 in Traill County, ND to Garfield and Esther (Langaunet) Kozojed. She attended school in Hillsboro, ND and graduated salutatorian of her class.  Following her graduation she worked for Sears & Roebuck in Fargo where she learned her accounting skills. Betty was united in marriage to Thomas Dunford on June 12, 1949 in Traill County, ND.   She continued to use her accounting skills including being the first female city auditor for Drayton, ND.  She enjoyed figuring her taxes before taking them to the CPA and sometimes corrected the CPA.  While in Drayton she also weighed the very first beet truck that entered the yards of the Drayton American Crystal Sugar Factory. Betty worked a variety of part time jobs so she could be active with her 5 children, attending their activities and encouraging them along the way.  Betty enjoyed square dancing, playing cards (pinochle and bridge), bowling, shuffleboard and most of all spending time with family.  Betty and Tom spent their retirement years between Fargo and Mesa, AZ.   Betty is survived by her four children: Wanda (Kenneth) Hodnefield of Hammond, WI; Dale (Brenda) Dunford  of Bellingham, WA; Anita (Tom) Johnson of Park River, ND; and Tammy (Rod) Puppe of Drayton, ND; daughter-in-law: Wilma Dunford of Menoken, ND; her 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; Kirk (Susan) Hodnefield – Kylie and Kolby of Hammond, WI; Tara (Chet) Carnevale – Blake, Regan, Summer and Addison of East Grand Forks, MN; Jay (Kim) Dunford - Pressley of Baldwin, ND; Lee (Cassie) Dunford – Aspen of Menoken, ND; Kari (Chad) Thorsteinson –  Abel and Lacy of Menoken, ND; Matthew Dunford (Danielle) of Lacey, WA; Nathan (Kirsten) Dunford of Ferndale, WA; and Katherine Dunford of Bellingham, WA; Erica Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN; Brett Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN; Sarah (Tim) Elde of St. Paul, MN; Alex (Justine) Puppe – Paisley and Leah of Cando, ND; and Spencer Puppe (Grace) of Drayton, ND; sisters: Gwen Holland of Dilworth, MN; Carol (Lowell) Holm of Fargo, ND; and Rose (Bob) Knudtson of Moorhead, MN; and several nieces, nephews, and in-laws.   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Thomas; son, Douglas; sister, Doris Pitman and several in-laws.   Memorial Service: 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2016 at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo Interment: 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 19, 2016 at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, ND.