Lana Faye (Goodman) O’Brien, 71, longtime educator, rancher and renowned leg-wrestler passed away on April 1, 2022 at her beloved home in South Dakota with her family. There will be a Celebration of Life Service for Lana will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, May 20, 2022 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Pastor Jerry Stravia IV officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Private Inurnment will take place at the Medora Cemetery.
Lana was born January 18, 1951 in Minot, the daughter of Kris and Fern (Paige) Goodman. She grew up on a farm outside of Bantry and eventually the family moved to Minot where she later graduated with a teaching degree from Minot State. Upon graduation from Minot State she packed up and headed to the wild, wild western part of ND. She taught school in a one room school house and spent countless summers working in Medora at the stables and for other ranchers in the area. One night in Medora, she was asked to dance by a young cowboy named Bill (who had just returned home from a tour in Korea) and even though she strongly questioned his dancing abilities at that time, he won her heart and the couple spent the next 50 years together. They were married on August 23, 1975, in Minot and together they raised their three spunky children (Shilo, Tatum “Tate” and Mckenzie “Kenzie”) mostly on the T Lazy T ranch north of Belfield.
The first few years of their marriage were spent in Fryburg. In 1984, the family moved out to the O’Brien family (T Lazy T) ranch where they stayed until retirement from the cattle business. Lana was proud to tell everyone that she was Superintendent of Billings County Schools for 17 years, all while raising a family and being a full-time rancher’s wife. She put more miles on the country roads than anyone could compete with. In the early 90s, things changed again as Lana decided to go to University of Mary and obtain her Master’s degree in Education Administration, she finished her degree in 1992. Shortly thereafter, she surprised everyone once again and added another sibling to our already charming-tribe, when Mckenzie joined us in 1993. Later, her kids grew up and had kids of their own, and then Lana was promoted to what could be said was her favorite title ever, Nana.
Lana was an amazing cook, she had a quick-wit and feisty disposition that is paralleled by none. If you met her, you never forgot her. She made an impression you would always remember, and she likely challenged you to leg-wrestle and won!
Lana is survived by her husband Bill, of nearly 47 years of marriage; her children: son, Shilo (Jenny) O’Brien, Belfield, daughter, Tatum O’Brien, Fargo, and son, Mckenzie (Ariana Molstad), West Fargo; three granddaughters, Elizabeth O’Brien, Shayden Lindbo and Delilah O’Brien; along with numerous brothers/sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors and many many “kids” that called her 2nd mom.
Lana was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Don and Rose O’Brien; her brother Larry Goodman; brothers-in law, Roger Boltz and Aaron Hawkinson; sister-in-law Sharon Hawkinson; honorary grandson, Arlo Vesey; as well as other extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins and great-nieces.
