Einar R. Fugelseth, 91, passed away due to natural causes on Friday, April 5, 2024.  Cremation has taken place, and no services are planned at this time.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Einar was born on June 20, 1932, in Halliday, ND, to Magnus and Mary (Sabins) Fuglseth.  He was raised on the family farm outside of Halliday, attending a country school close to his home.  After his school years, he worked on the family farm, and entered the US Army in 1951.  He served in the Korean War until his discharge in 1953, when he returned home to North Dakota.  There he met Patricia Carlson, and the couple married in 1955.  They moved to Havre, MT, where they made their home and had five children, before divorcing.  In Havre, Einar worked as the manager at Nelson Optical for many years, and then moved on to manage the optical lab for Doctors Wilkins & Beardsley.  In 1987, he married Jann Wells.  The couple moved to LeGrande, OR, where they opened Einar's Unique Optique, which they operated for 25 years before retiring.

Einar was a horseman and true cowboy.  He loved horses, and raised and trained his own Peruvian Pasos.  He also enjoyed boxing, and was a Boy Scout leader when his son Steven was younger.  He was quiet and unassuming with those outside his family, but with his family, he was outgoing and gregarious.

He was preceded in death by his children, Steven and Valerie Fugelseth; granddaughter, Brittney Fugelseth; parents, Magnus and Mary Fuglseth; siblings, Doris Schnaible, Aletta LaRocque, Ardella Miller, and infant brothers Sonny and Donny Fuglseth.

Einar is survived by his wife, Jann Fugelseth; children, Denise (Mike) Haugen, Cynthia (Gary) Flathers, and Michele (Lewis) Mitchell; seven grandchildren, Kristen Takeuchi, Brett Haugen, Kayce Flathers, Carly Haugen, Emily Flathers, Sara Fugelseth, and Caleaha Fugelseth; two great-grandchildren, Len Takeuchi and Isla Henry; brother, Kenneth (Marilyn) Fugelseth; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.