Lauren William Wild

Memorial services will be Friday, March 7, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton, N.D., with visitation from 9:00-10:30 A.M. at the church for Lauren William Wild, who joined his heavenly wife, Mary Lou, on Feb. 20, 2025. Inurnment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post #41 and North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard. The service will be live streamed on the Tollefson Funeral Home website.

Lauren was born Feb. 14, 1952, to LaVern Wild and Lillian Snydal Wild and was raised and went to school in Milton, N.D. He met the love of his life, Mary Lou Flanagan, during high school. Lauren and Mary were united in marriage on Aug. 21, 1970. They went on to have two children, Erika and Tricia. Lauren proudly served in the US Army as Fort Jackson’s first MP K9 Handler with his service dog, Kazan. After his discharge, they returned to N.D., settling in Grafton, where Lauren began his career as a peace officer. Lauren spent 14 years with the Grafton Police Department, finishing his tenure as Assistant Chief of Police. He then served another 28 years as Sheriff of Walsh County and was known to be both professional and fair, dedicating himself to protecting his community with unwavering commitment and exceptional integrity. His position also gave him the opportunity to participate on multiple committees and was proud of his work on the HIDTA drug task force, Throughout his career, he received numerous awards and accolades. A natural leader, Lauren was awarded the prestigious Lone Eagle Award, a testament to his dedication to duty and the respect he garnered from peers and residents alike. His work was not just a job; it was a calling driven by his deep-seated desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others. He deeply cherished the strong bonds he developed amongst his law enforcement family across all of N.D.

Lauren will be remembered not only for his professional accomplishments, but for his kind heart and gentle spirit. He was an inspiration, embodying humility and the values of hard work and perseverance. He had a passion for fishing and developed many special friendships over the years. He holds a special place among his lake family at Lake of the Woods, where he was known as Pa and nicknamed “Smoke (on the water).” Countless cherished memories were made, forged in laughter and love. He spent his final days ice fishing on LOW with family and friends.

As a father and grandpa, Lauren poured his heart into every relationship, nurturing and guiding his children and grandchildren with wisdom and affection. He possessed a remarkable ability to weave life lessons into captivating tales, ensuring that each generation carries forward his legacy of kindness and resilience. It is a legacy that reminds us of the power of compassion and the importance of connection. His absence will be felt deeply, but his stories and the love he shared will endure in the hearts of family and friends. A cherished father, devoted grandpa, and caring friend, Lauren's spirit will forever resonate in the hearts of all who knew him.

We’d like to extend our sincerest appreciation and thanks to all of the medical staff who have taken such great care of Lauren with special thanks to Dr. Anil Potti, Nurse Riley, the teams at Grafton Family Clinic and the Cancer Center of North Dakota.

Lauren is survived by his daughters: Erika (Tom) Porcelli and her sons: Devon Fiedler, Hunter Fiedler and Jackson Porcelli; and Tricia (James) Bodnar and her children: Brittney Anderson, Derek Anderson and Katrina Bodnar; siblings: Richard (Mary) Wild, Linda Dunnigan, Alexander Wild; inlaws Patrick (Suzie) Flanagan and Vern Flanagan; his beloved Aunt Patsy Foseide along with the many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Mary Lou Flanagan Wild; his parents, LaVern and Lillian Wild; and in-laws Sonny and Babe Flanagan, JoAnn Flanagan, Linda Flanagan and Dan Dunnigan.

An online guestbook is available at www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com