Duane Frederick Hart

Published May 21, 2019 at 2:01 AM

Duane Frederick Hart, age 80 of Grand Forks, died Wednesday May 15, 2019, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 22, at Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks. Visitation will be held from 1:00pm to 2:00pm, Wednesday, May 22, at Amundson Funeral Home, immediately before the service. Burial will be held at 12:00 pm, Thursday, May 23, at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery, Mandan, ND.

Duane was born March 22, 1939, in Grand Forks, the son of Joseph and Lillian Hart. He was raised and educated in Grand Forks. He married Linda Eide in 1958, and they had 3 children. This marriage later ended. He worked in the lumber and machining industries in Vancouver, Wash, then later in the car repair and road construction industry in the midwest.

Duane later met Helen Nelson-Fjelstad in West Fargo, and they married in June 1979 in Plentywood, Mont. Helen and Duane moved to Halliday, where he worked at the Great Plains Gasification Plant then opened a shop in Dodge, ND. In 1987, he moved his shop, to Halliday, operating there for 10 years. Duane began teaching high school welding in 1999, later expanding to include an adult welding class. He was a long-standing member of the Lions Club and the National Blacksmith and Welder Association, serving multiple terms as the president. Duane also served as Mayor for the City of Halliday 2004 through 2008. In 2016 Duane moved to Grand Forks where he has resided since.

Duane is survived by son, Bruce Hart, Grand Forks; daughter, Angie (Curt) Lommen, Rochester Hills, Mich; stepson, Curtis (Beverly) Fjelstad, Deer Lodge, Mont.; stepdaughters, Mari (Russell) Christensen, San Tan Valley, Ariz, and Peggy (John) Errecart and Patti Fjelstad, both of Sidney, Mont.; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind Yetta, his dedicated service dog.

Duane was preceded in death by one son Todd Hart, wife Helen, brothers Levon (Red) and Gary Hart; his parents; stepdaughters, Rebecca Fjelstad and Cecelia Fjelstad, and great grand-daughters Laynie Bauman and Peytyn Christensen.

Arrangements are with the Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks.