John Ruben Osnes was born on February 1, 1926, and died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of March 11, 2013, at the age of 87 years with his beloved wife, Myrtle, at his side. John was the son of a 1904 homesteader in Dakota territory, John Jacob Osnes, and his wife, Annie Christine (Fagerli) Osnes. He was born on the homestead and dedicated his life to farming and ranching its wide, open spaces. He attended Burke High School and continued his loyalty to the homestead by remaining on it after he married Dortha Grace Wilson on June 3, 1951. To this union were born two children, John Dorwin and Pamela Grace. After 35 years of marriage and life together on the Osnes Ranch, John's life sadly changed when Dortha died in 1990 after an extended struggle with cancer. Grief-stricken, but always a stoic, resilient Norwegian, John continued farming the homestead land with integrity and traveled to visit his children and grandchildren more frequently. The twinkle in John's eyes was bright as starburst when talking with and about his grandchildren. In John's last weeks, he would speak about how he would arise every morning to sit in his comfortable recliner to admire the photos of his grandchildren hanging on the wall.

On December 30, 1994, John and his family were blessed when Myrtle Risewick of Silverton, Oregon, married him in a joyous wedding at the United Methodist Church in Burke and joined him as he continued farming and ranching at the Osnes Ranch. While his children and grandchildren always put a twinkle in his eye, the great love and admiration he had for his wife, Myrtle, was a joy to witness. She brought a sparkle into John's life that few are privileged to experience. In 2007, John and Myrtle sold the farm implements and livestock and John retired from working the land. He continued to avidly mow the many acres surrounding the farmhouse and putter continuously in the workshed on endless projects and repair jobs until declining health necessitated a move to Silver Threads in Gregory in early December 2012. Although having hoped to always remain on the homestead outside Burke until his death, John found happiness in his new home at Silver Threads as he teased the staff and settled into a new lifestyle with his cherished Myrtle. In mid-February, John was blessed to attend the wedding of his granddaughter, Jessica, which allowed his family and friends to have timeless, precious memories of him only three weeks before his death.

John will be remembered for his faith, work ethic, honesty and fairness; his enduring love for his wife, Myrtle; his support of his family, neighbors, and friends and his willingness to help them in their times of need; his stories of days and times past that constantly entertained and interested all who visited; his in-depth mechanical and carpentry knowledge which gave him an uncanny ability to create from "bits ?n pieces" what others could only purchase; his adherence to building towering haystacks in his alfalfa fields, testimony to his engineering skills; his love of rodeos, cowboy ways, the land, and the ways things were done "back then;" and his dedication to Christianity as evidenced by his contribution of countless service hours to the United Methodist Church in Burke and by the living example he set for others.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Catherine (Risewick) Osnes; his son, John and his daughter-in-law, Joni of Black Hawk, SD; his daughter, Pamela of Lafayette, CA; five grandchildren--Jennifer and her husband Jason Potts of Billings, MT; Jessica, and her husband Harlan Bergeleen of Mankato, MN; Jacquelyn Osnes of St. Cloud, MN; Jocelyn Stokes of Morgantown, WV; Logan John Osnes Stokes of Olympia, WA; John's sister, Junice Herling of Bay City, WI; a host of nieces and nephews; his "second daughter," Marty Wetzler Watson of St. Paul, MN; and countless friends, neighbors, and a precious few remaining "old timers."

John was preceded in death by his first wife, Dortha; his parents, John and Annie; five brothers: Herman, Marvin, Harold "Jim," Markus and Joseph; and two sisters, Mildred and Ruth.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Burke. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a 7:00 PM prayer service, at the church.