Jervis L. Wolden, a beloved friend and cousin, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026. During his final months he received exceptional care from CHI Hospice-Valley City and the dedicated team at the ND Veterans Home in Lisbon, ND where he resided the past 10 1/2 years.
Born on July 29, 1925, to Adolph and Myrtle Wolden of Walcott, ND. Jervis was baptized and confirmed at Walcott Lutheran Church. In later years he took great pleasure in remembering his confirmation classmates and even after his 100th birthday, could still recite all their names: Ardell Bakko, Jervis Anderson, Arden Amundson, Nile Bakko, Pearl Larson, Lionel Aarhus, Ramona Hagen, and Paul Sather.
After attending Walcott School, Jervis was drafted into the Army in 1943 at the age of 18. Following his infantry training, he boarded the USS George Washington for a six-day day journey from New York to Le Havre, France. He often recalled the intense experience of boarding with a flashlight under full blackout conditions and traveling in a 60-ship zig zag formation to avoid the enemy. The crossing was so rough that he was constantly seasick, a memory that led him to keep a ready flashlight and ice cream for the rest of his life.
Jervis served as a jeep driver, army guard, and marksman in the 137 Evac Hospital Semi-Mobile Unit. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theatre Service Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Service Medal. In 2025, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Washington further honored his WWII service as a Driver 345 and Rifle Marksman with a Certificate and Centenarian Medal.
After returning home to Walcott and his Norwegian roots he worked for Great Northern Railroad on the maintenance crew and as a humble, valued, and dependable farm laborer. While farming and in retirement his enthusiast interest was deer and pheasant hunting with his buddies, as well as fishing at the Park Station, Barrie Schoolhouse and the Christine Dam. Jervis was a proud member of the Walcott Hagen-Helgeson Post 166 for 79 years and served on their Honor Guard in his earlier years.
He loved Walcott all his life and Walcott loved him as evidenced by the yearly turnout in Lisbon for his annual birthday party.
Jervis is survived by just a few cousins, his community of friends, best friend Orvin Tinjum, and good friend Lianne Rockstad.
Preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and special friends Harold and LaVonne Jordheim.
Should you wish to honor Jervis with a memorial, please consider the Walcott Area Veterans Memorial, PO Box 74 Walcott, ND 58077 or CHI Hospice, the ND Veterans Home, or a charity of your choice.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Fredrikson-Boulger Funeral Chapel in Kindred, ND, with coffee and visitation starting at 9:45 a.m.
Burial with military honors: Walcott Cemetery in Walcott, ND.
Online Guestbook: https://boulgerfuneralhome.com/obits/jervis-l-wolden/
Funeral Home: Fredrikson-Boulger Funeral Chapel, Kindred, ND
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