I can still hear the laughter and remember the patience he had while I was 4 and he would allow us (my sister and I) to put curlers in his hair and play hair dressers for hours. This is such a fun memory since he did the same for my daughters when they were 3 and 4 years of age. He was an individual that never broke a promise and never said no when you needed him most. He will never be forgotten and it is comforting that his pain and suffering is over and he is happy once again. Robyn Wieland (daughter) Hazen, North Dakota

I will miss Grandpa, and I truly wish I had more time with him. More time to lean from his wisdom and more time to hear his stories. But I know he is safe and whole in Heaven, and that he looks over all of us. So, let us not mourn the lost time with him, but rather rejoice in our fondest memories of him. Let us rest easy in the knowledge that he is in Heaven with our Heavenly Father, and that he has been made whole and smiles on us every day. Michael Wieland (Grandson) Hazen, North Dakota

As I sit here and reflect on the memories of my Grandfather, Richard Cerva, (AKA Popo to some of us - and laugh because I still have no idea why we called him that), a story or rather a promise comes to mind that I'd like to share.

As little girl I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, and when my parents decided to move, I remember how devastated I was when I found out they weren't coming with. Before we moved Grandpa gave my sister and I a handkerchief to take with us. You can about imagine the panic I had when we were loading up, saying or good-byes, and my handkerchief was NO where to be found! Grandpa promised he would mail it as soon as he found it.

Years passed….no hanky,  and to be honest I completely forgot about it. After graduating high school Grandpa came to visit before I moved away to college. I was surprise when my graduation present turned out to be my long lost handkerchief with B.R.I.D.G.E.T written in permanent black marker! When I asked him where he found it, he told me he found it in a drawer one day and he remembered his promise to return it.  

Although it is now yellowed with age with permanent creases, I keep it safe in a box. A simple 5-cent handkerchief will always be a reminder of the man my grandfather was.

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Richard Keith Cerva

19 September, 1932 – 24 July, 2013

People’s Funeral Chapel

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