Annie Craft, age 101, of Stanley, ND passed away Saturday, July 14, 2018 at Mountrail Bethel Home in Stanley, ND. Springan Stevenson Funeral Home of Stanley is assisting the family.

Annie Mable Paulson was born in Lunds Valley, ND on November 8, 1916 to Henry and Pauline (Anderson) Paulson. She was raised on the family farm near Lunds Valley. Annie was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church near Lunds Valley. She attended Lunds Valley School and graduated in 1934. Annie had seven siblings: brothers, Alvin, Eddie, Hardus and Warren; sisters, Clara, Oranda and Emma.

Annie attended Minot State Teachers College, now MSU, graduating in 1936. She was an elementary school teacher in country schools such as Tagus, Kenmare, and Stanley. Many of her past students still talk about the good memories of having her for a teacher.

On June 10, 1950, Annie married Melvin Craft in Stanley. They lived on the family farm south of Stanley where they farmed and ranched. Annie was an active member of the Handy Hands Homemakers Club and the Knife River Lutheran Church in rural Stanley where she taught Sunday School, Bible School and served on the Ladies Aid group. Annie and Melvin worked at Flickertail Village and Museum in Stanley for several years helping to get it started and giving tours. They enjoyed traveling and after retiring, they traveled to England, Norway and every state but two in the United States. Annie and Melvin had also spent many evenings playing whist and visiting with their neighbors and friends. The annual Christmas Day dinners and 4th of July picnics at their place were special times that the entire family would look forward to.

She was a great seamstress and sewed many dresses and quilts. She gave each of her grandchildren a beautiful quilt on their confirmation day. Annie also made many baby blankets for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She liked to bake and usually had homemade bars or cookies for whoever stopped by, as many of her grandchildren’s friends will also remember.

In 2014, Annie moved into Bethel Home in Stanley. She put on many miles going up and down the hallways in her wheelchair and offering nurses chocolate candy bars from the stash she kept in her room. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Annie is survived by her 3 children; Marshall (Jane) Craft, Stanley, Patty (Dave) Neset, Minot, Gary (Darla) Craft, Stanley; 9 grandchildren, Dena (Chris) Ranum, Brenda (Mike) Bratton, Lana (Jay) Evans, Kris ( Cheri) Neset, Mark (Maria) Neset, Randy (Jen) Neset, Camie Anderson, Jamie (Cory) Rice, Kevin (Stacey) Craft; 27 great-grandchildren; sister, Oranda Nelson, Seattle, WA; and sister-in-law, Dolores Paulson, Williston.

Annie was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Melvin; parents, Henry and Pauline Paulson; brothers, Alvin, Eddie, Hardus, Warren; and sisters, Clara Whiting and Emma Kanenwisher.