Devine Ochsner

Devine Leland Ochsner was born on December 8th, 1930 in Mobridge, South Dakota to Gustave and Emelia (Boehler) Ochsner. He grew up on a farm east of Mobridge and attended a one-room country school (Lincoln) until moving into Mobridge in 1943. Devine graduated from Mobridge High School in 1948. He worked at J.C. Penney during high school and a few years after before joining the South Dakota National Guard. He served as Army Sergeant in Alaska during the Korean War doing cold weather wilderness troop mobilization missions. Devine married Shirley Herring in Mobridge in 1954 and in 1956 moved to Rapid City to work for South Dakota Cement. They moved to Aberdeen and Bismarck where he took a job with Ideal Cement Company and was transferred to Great Falls, Montana in 1966. Later that year, he came to Fargo and founded F-M Ready Mix with two other partners. He served as President and General Manger until his retirement in 1993. They raised two sons (James, 1960 and Dan, 1966) in Fargo before moving to Pelican Lake in 1987. A few years after Shirley’s death in 2003, Jake moved back to Fargo where he lived until death. During his lifetime, he was active with Plymouth Congregational Church in Fargo serving in chairmanship roles on most committees and as chairman (Moderator) of the entire congregation on a couple of occasions. He served as President of the North Dakota Ready Mix Association; Board of Directors of the North Dakota Associated General Contractors (AGC); Board Member of the F-M Builders Exchange and Fargo-Moorhead Home Builders Association; member of Shiloh Masonic Lodge; and held numerous positions with the El Zagal Shrine Club including Oriental Band Director, Board of Trustees, and the Coup De Gras as Potentate in 1999. Jake loved music, playing the harmonica, and serving the church and Shrine. But most of all, Jake loved people. His genuine interest in the lives of everyone he met and loved defined his character throughout his life. Jake’s energy, humor, and devotion to others’ well being was, and always will be inspirational to everyone he knew. His devotion to family was amazingly unconditional and pure. Devine and Shirley, also known as “Jake & Shirl” were a model couple. They shared everything and enjoyed each other tremendously. Though together now, they are both missed dearly here on earth. Jake was preceded in death by his wife, parents, 3 brothers, and 2 sisters. He is survived by sons James (Shelly) Ochsner, Dan (Jan) Ochsner, and three grandchildren Ray Berthold (Phoenix, AZ), Amber Berthold (Portland, OR), and Amy Berthold (Portland, OR). Funeral Service: 11:00AM, Saturday, November 13, 2010, at Plymouth Congregational Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: 5-7PM, Friday, November 12, 2010 at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Masonic Service: 7PM, Friday, at Hanson-Runsvold. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Plymouth Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 901 Broadway N., Fargo, ND 58102.