Joshua Lee Raftevold

Joshua Lee Raftevold, 19, Grand Forks, ND, died Sunday, February 15, 2015 at Altru Hospital after losing a battle to addiction and depression.

Joshua was born August 19, 1995 to Brian Raftevold and Tiffany Louder in Breckenridge, MN. He started school there through second grade then moved to Kentucky to live with his mother. He later moved to Florida. In 2009, he moved back north and spent his eighth grade year in Apple Valley, and Breckenridge, MN, before moving to Fargo. Joshua attended high school at Fargo North, obtaining his GED and later, became welding certified. While he was in school, he worked at Dairy Queen in Fargo.

When he was growing up, Joshua enjoyed family camping trips and spending time at the lake cabin. He loved fishing trips with his dad until he became old enough to fish on his own. As he got older, he turned into a competitive Frisbee golfer. After his first attempt on a scooter, in which he forgot to take his hand off the throttle until he went through the porch, he decided not to try that anymore.

He was loved by everyone around him and had many friends.

Joshua is survived by his parents, Brian Raftevold, Kim and Brian Smerud, all of Fargo, ND, and Tiffany Stenslie, Florida; sisters, Haylee Raftevold, Fargo, ND; Jolie Kvidera, Wahpeton, ND; and Madelyn Rodgers, Florida; brother, Chase Schmidt, Florida; very special friend, Amy Buckholz, Grand Forks, ND; grandparents, Barry Raftevold, Mooreton, ND; Joe and Kathy Hammer, Breckenridge, MN; Sarah Stack, Grand Forks, ND and Joseph Louder, Florida; aunts and uncles, Justin and Jackie (Elizabeth and Sierra) Hammer, California; Paul (Grace and Waylan) Raftevold, St. Cloud, MN; Casey Raftevold, Rapid City, SD; Chris and Amanda (Asher and Brynlee) Noel, Bismarck, ND; Ory Raftevold; Daryl and Shauna (Eli) Schleeter, both of Rothsay, MN; Samantha Hammer, Bismarck, ND; Cassandra Stack; Nicole Halvorson, both of Grand Forks, ND; Becky Louder, Texas; and Aubrey Laughrey, Florida; special great aunts and uncles, Judy and Collin Prochnow, Apple Valley, MN; and Bill and Debbie White, Eden Prairie, MN; and many other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his great grandmother, Dolly Raftevold.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Prairie Heights Community Church.