Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

This is a continuation of Block 4 of St. John's Cemetery. This part includes the final five of the seven unmarked graves in Block 4 – Charles Michaels, Mrs. Tom Welsh, Veronica Esther Welsh, Mrs. J.P. Welsh, J.P. Welsh, Ned Walsh, Mary Walsh and Denver Black.

Ned Walsh: Proper name is Edward (Ned) Walsh. Edward Walsh was born on July 9, 1866 near Quebec, Canada. His life history is taken from the obituary in the New Rockford Transcript and reads as follows: "Pioneer of Eddy County called to unknown shore last Friday afternoon (Aug. 17, 1923). Edward Walsh answers call of angel of death after lingering illness of a year. One of the earliest settlers of county. Funeral services held at St. John’s Church yesterday at 10 o’clock a.m.

"Edward Walsh, one of the early pioneers of Eddy County, died at his home in this city Friday afternoon at half past five, of an apoplectic stroke having been afflicted with two bad strokes about a year ago, and from which his health has been failing ever since.

"The funeral services were conducted at St. John’s Catholic Church in this city yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, a large concourse of the sorting relatives and friends of the deceased attending the last sad rites.

"Edward Walsh, familiarly called 'Ned' by the large circle of acquaintances he had, was born near Quebec on July 9, 57 years ago and came to North Dakota in 1886. For many years, he resided out in the Tiffany community but for the past three years he and his family have made their home in New Rockford. He leaves to mourn his death his wife, four daughters, the Misses Mary, Edith and Veronica of this city, and Mrs. Harry Dawson, of Seattle, Wash.; two sons, Joseph and Edward Jr., three brothers, Martin and Stephen, who reside in this county, and Andrew, whose home is in Great Falls, Mont., and a sister, Mrs. Margaret McAvoy, of Lindsey, Ontario.

"'Ned' was every inch a man; cheerful in prosperity and adversity; a good neighbor and a splendid citizen. During the many years he has resided in Eddy County, he has become known to practically every resident of the county, and universal regret will be felt by all in his passing away. To the sorrowing wife and children the sincere sympathy of the entire community goes out in the loss of a kind and indulgent husband and a loving and thoughtful father. The funeral sermon was preached by Father Carrol and the remains were laid to rest in Calvary (St. John’s Catholic) Cemetery north of this city (New Rockford, N.D.)."

Edward “Ned” Walsh has a stone marking his grave.

Mary Walsh: Proper name is Mary Elizabeth Walsh. Mary Elizabeth Walsh was born on Oct. 4, 1907 in New Rockford, N.D. to Edward 'Ned' and Elizabeth Walsh. Her life history comes from her obituary taken from the New Rockford Transcript and reads as follows: "Death comes to Mary Walsh on last Tuesday (April 3, 1928). Young girl of our community answers the call of the angel of death. Several months of suffering is ended. Funeral services will be held on Monday morning at St. John’s Catholic Church.

"Again has the dread angel of death invaded the New Rockford community and taken from its midst a young and promising life in the person of Mary Elizabeth Walsh, daughter of Mrs. Ned Walsh, whose death from tuberculosis occurred at the home of her mother in this city Tuesday afternoon at five o’clock. Funeral services over the mortal clay will be conducted at St. John’s Catholic Church next Monday morning at 10 o’clock. Rev. Fr. Cullen being in charge of the services. Pallbearers will be cousins of the deceased – John, Clement, Fabian and Martin Walsh Jr. of this city.

"Deceased was born out in the Tiffany community on Oct. 4, 1907, and has made her home out there and in this city ever since. Attending the city high schools she graduated with honor and was for several years one of the efficient and truncated employees of the New Rockford Telephone exchange. An examination last October developed the fact that she was a victim of tuberculosis and in December she and her mother went to the sanitarium at Dunseith in the hopes that the treatment there would save her life. They remained there until the middle of last month when the physicians gave up hope of her recovery and they returned to their home in this city, the deceased rapidly failing until the end came Tuesday afternoon, and the community is left to mourn one of its loved ones. She was a girl of wonderful personality and her circle of friends was only limited by her acquaintanceship – and this included practically every resident of the communities in which she spent her short life.

"She leaves to mourn her departure to that unknown realm her mother, Mrs. Ned Walsh; three sisters, Mrs. Raymond Riggle and Miss Veronica of this city, and Mrs. Frank Dawson of Seattle, Wash. One brother, Joseph, of this city, also survives. Her other brother, Edward Jr. had preceded her in death nine months ago. Other relatives surviving are the families of Stephen and Martin Walsh of this city and the John Walsh family of Harvey, N.D.

"To the sorrowing mother and sisters and brother the sincere sympathy of the entire community is extended in the loss they have sustained in the passing away of a devoted daughter and sister."

Mary Elizabeth Walsh is buried in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford, N.D. and does not have a stone marking her grave.

Denver Black: Proper name is Denver Francis Black. His life history was taken from the New Rockford Transcript on Nov. 17, 2014 and reads as follows: "Denver Francis Black, 63, Dickinson, died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Liturgy of the Word Service was held Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with Deacon Bob Stockert presiding. Interment was held at the New Rockford Cemetery.

"He was born Sept. 25, 1951, at Rugby, N.D., the son of Frank and Eleanor (Hauck) Black. He was united in marriage to Deb Kovar on May 19, 1973, at Flasher. He was an over-the-road truck driver.

"Survivors include his children, Devin (Jeremiah) Johnson, Laurel, Mont.; Dezariah Black, Ballentine, Mont. and Dominique Kovar, Bozeman, Mont.; two daughters-in-law, Lisa Black, Belgrade, Mont. and Monica Black, Plains, Mont.; two brothers, Sebastian (Linda) Black, Plains, Mont., and Peter Black, Texas; special friend, Shirlene Berger, Dickinson; and many other family members and friends.

"He was preceded in death by two sons, Denny Ruben Black and Dustin Frank Black; brother, David Black; and his father, Frank Black."

Denver Francis Black is buried in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in the Black Family Lot. He does not have a stone marking his grave.