Cindy K. Skjefte, 59, Williston, passed away Friday, February 10, 2017 at Trinity Health, Minot, surrounded by her loving husband and children. Cindy’s funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, February 16, 2017 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with Pastor Andrew Schank officiating. Interment will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan at 2 p.m. MT. Visitation will be on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Cindy Kay Hanson was born August 20, 1957, the third of four children born to Robert and Alma (Kleemann) Hanson. She grew up in Killdeer, graduating in 1975 from Killdeer High School.
On June 28, 1980, she married Gail Skjefte of Dunn Center, and they made their home in Killdeer. They were blessed with two children, Ryan (1981) and Cari (1983). The Skjeftes lived in Beulah and Hazen, where Cindy worked in her dream job as an EMT and Paramedic—a perfect mission for her willingness to serve others and stay calm in a crisis, then later to Williston.
Cindy leaves behind her husband, Gail; her two children, Ryan and Cari (Andrew Schmitt), both of Bismarck; her father Robert Hanson, Killdeer; and three siblings: Dean (Duduzile Dludlu) of Ngololweni, Swaziland; Judy (Greg) Coughlin of Chisago City, Minn.; and Darlene (Mike) Haven of Maple Grove, Minn.: and many other family and friends who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her mother, Alma.
Cindy gave and accepted love so freely with an amazing ability to find blessings in any situation. She had a deep love of the badlands of Killdeer and enjoyed every day she spent there. Her words, “Yahoo yippee hurray! I’m gonna be a grandma!” expressed fully her immense joy upon learning that her first granddaughter was on the way. We’ve all learned so much from her spirit and she will be forever held dear in our hearts.
