Carmen Monsen, 82, of Rural Arnegard, ND, passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at the Good Shepherd Home in Watford City, surrounded by his family and friends, Carmen went to his home in heaven.

Carmen LeRoy Monsen was born August 5th, 1934 to Martin and Irene Monsen in Watford City, North Dakota.

Carmen started his love of farming and hard work at a very young age, graduating salutatorian of his class where he received a college scholarship, but he choose to run the farm. While working on the family farm Carmen ran his own freight delivery business and drove a school bus for 48 years. After retiring in 1999, he continued to lend a helping hand with spring’s work, harvest, and fixing the old machinery including restoring his John Deere D.

At the age of 15 Carmen created a dark room for his photography making his own equipment. He turned his hobby of photography into a profession – Photos by Carmen.

Carmen married the love of his life, Lois Stevens on March 7th, 1955 in Arnegard at the Wilmington Lutheran Church and remained united in marriage for 61 years. Together they had four children; Kim, Carmela, Emmy Lou and Clayton.

He had numerous hobbies and enjoyed fishing, boating, hunting, archery, bowling and target shooting/ prairie dogs. Our favorite memories as a family are going to the Roosevelt National Park, Lake Sakakawea, Arnegard Dam and Sather Dam.

Carmen had a love of music and listened to all types of music such as The 5th Dimension, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Band and the list goes on!

Carmen is survived by: his loving wife Lois Monsen; his son Kim and wife Michelle Monsen and their children, Kimberly (John) Bivens, Shane, Nicole, Troy Monsen and Wendy Fisher; his daughter Carmela and husband David Renbarger and their children, Eric Renbarger, Kati (Noah) Drew, Mark Renbarger; his daughter Emmy Lou and husband Wesley Boatman and their children Jessica (Chad) Lathrop, Sean (Sheena) Boatman, Kori Boatman; his son Clayton and wife Vicki Monsen and their children Ryan, Allison, Karissa, and Kaylin Monsen; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Carmen is preceded in death by his father Martin Monsen, mother Irene Hasselstom, stepfather’s Dr. Harry Winner and Gordon Hasselstom; sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie and Allen Stedman, sister and brother-in-law Alfa and Olaf Leiseth, and sister Clarice Monsen.