Leland Fosness

July 21, 1952-April 4, 2025

Tolna

Leland Earl Fosness, 72 of Tolna died Friday, April 4, 2025 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. Leland, the son of Earl and Alida (Ness) Fosness was born on July 21, 1952 in Rugby, North Dakota.

Leland was raised in rural Barton and attended school in Willow City, Rugby and graduated high school from Towner. He began his construction career with trenching and utility work. He put in the first fiber optics in North Dakota and that was in Ray.

On March 14, 1975, he married Vickie Ellis and they were blessed with three children. His family moved wherever his construction career took them, including Oklahoma and Kansas.

Leland and his family settled in the Berwick/Towner area in the early 1980’s. He then went into business himself, starting with a skid steer business then carpentry, as he was a very talented carpenter.

Vickie and Leland later ended their marriage. In 1995, Leland met Julie Blessum and they began their life together owning and operating bar and grill’s. In 2005, they opened L & J’s Bar in Tolna, which they still own.

Leland enjoyed going on rides in his Ranger, fishing and camping with family and friends and watching the Minnesota Vikings. He loved to visit, was a character who always had stories to tell and was willing to do anything for anyone.

He was an avid reader, reading and subscribing to multiple North Dakota newspapers, reading western books as well as the reader’s digest stories. He always had a fun fact about something he had just read and enjoyed sharing. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Leland is survived by his partner of 30 years, Julie Blessum of Tolna; children, Cameron (Scott) Jacobson of Grand Forks, Denver (Jessica) Fosness of Towner and LeRae (Joe) Bachmeier of Towner; grandchildren, Tucker & Melanie Fosness, Navi & Jay Jacobson; Kinley, Brennan & Ellery Bachmeier; siblings, Kathy (Al) Brown of Rugby and Rick Fosness of Aneta; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by infant twin brothers, Kevin & Kerwin and his parents.

Graveside services will be held at a later date at Marker Cemetery.

A visitation was held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, April 14 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Towner with lunch and fellowship to follow at the Gallow’s Hall in Towner.

Arrangements with the Anderson Funeral Home of Towner. Online Condolences: www.funeralsbyanderson.com

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, April 19, 2025.