Harry Godsey

Harry Godsey, 81, of Larimore, ND passed away unexpectedly in his home on September 12, 2020. Harry was born to Paul and Ollie Mae Godsey on January 3, 1939. He was born and raised in Caruthersville, Missouri on the Mississippi River.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Okinawa and then Grand Forks Air Force Base where he met his wife Mary Lee. They were married December 17, 1960 and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this December.

Harry joined the United States Army in January of 1961 and he and Mary moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While traveling with the Army, they gave birth to their three daughters; Elizabeth, Denise and Carrie.

While Harry was stationed in Fort Bragg, he was in the 82 ^nd Airborne Division. He then joined the 5 ^th and 10 ^th Special Forces Groups and accompanied them to two tours in Vietnam. Later in his military career, he was stationed in the ROTC at the University of Utah and the University of North Dakota. For six years he worked as an Army recruiter in Grand Forks. Harry’s career in the military took him all over the world. Harry was proud to serve his country.

Among his numerous awards and decorations are two Bronze Stars for Heroism in Ground Combat and one Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations in Hostile Forces. Other commendations include Master Parachutist Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal 6 ^th Award, Combat Infantry Badge, Recruiter Badge, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Parachutist Badge, and completion of the Division Jumpmaster Course. He retired from the Army as a Master Sergeant on August 1 ^st 1980.

Before retirement from the Army, Harry and Mary made their home back in Larimore, ND where they finished raising their daughters and watched all of their grandchildren graduate from Larimore High School.

After retiring from the Army, Harry was the City Superintendent in Larimore. He took pride in keeping Larimore’s streets and water in the best condition possible until 1998 when both he and Mary retired.

Harry enjoyed fishing, spending time at their cabin in Devils Lake, traveling, attending Green Beret Reunions, Liars Poker with his grandsons and sons-in-law,  and lending a helping hand to a neighbor or person in need. You could usually find him at McDonalds in Grand Forks, enjoying coffee at the Station in Larimore, shaking dice at Glenn’s Sinclair or taking meticulous care of his lawn.

His family loved him dearly. He is survived by his wife Mary, and daughters, Elizabeth (Lavern) Berger, Denise (Robert) Williams, and Carrie (Todd) Nelson, eight grandchildren Tarah (Jordan) Yaggie, Meredith (John) Boe, Brandon (Sarah) Berger, Eric (Rachel) Berger, Aaron (Holli Lee) Nelson, Emily Williams, Corey Nelson and Rachel Williams, four great grandchildren Evelyn Boe, Ruston Yaggie, Julian Berger, and Vivianne Yaggie. He is also survived by one sister, Dottie C Jones, numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. They will all miss him every day.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ollie Mae Godsey of Caruthersville, Mo., brothers and sisters, Wilbur Godsey, Bud Godsey, Paul Godsey Jr., J.D.  Godsey, and May Dean, father and mother-in-law Sanford and Elizabeth Lee, brother in law George Hendrickson, and sister in law Janice Lee.

FUNERAL SERVICES:   10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Larimore, ND.

VISITATION:  One hour prior to the funeral in the church Wednesday,

INTERMENT:   Bellevue Cemetery, Larimore, ND