Sharon Lorene (Anderson) Luntsford
Sharon Lorene (Anderson) Luntsford was born Aug. 18, 1940, to Leonard and Selma (Shelvik) Anderson. She was delivered at home by a Norwegian midwife who exclaimed “It’s a fin noni.,” (loose translation, a fine little girl), and the nickname Noni stuck.
Sharon grew up on the family ranch east of Watford City, N.D. She graduated from Watford City High School in 1958 and attended college in Jamestown, N.D.
Sharon married David Aldridge in 1959. They had one son together, David Scott Aldridge. They later divorced.
In 1970, Sharon worked in the advertising department at KUMV TV in Williston, N.D. There she designed and developed advertising artwork for the station. This led her to a job at a TV station in Helena, Mont., where she moved to be with her son Scott in 1973.
While working in Helena, she met Bob Luntsford and they married in March of 1976. Shortly after, she became a full-time professional artist. She worked in many mediums but especially loved oil painting.
Sharon traveled the art circuit in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho for the next several years. In 1984, she and her husband Bob moved to Sun Valley, Idaho. It was at this time she became involved with the Episcopal Church and became a Deacon. She also worked diligently applying for grants and funding and founded Silver Creek Community Services, a nonprofit organization that provided free food and clothing to the local community of Carey, Idaho for people in need.
Following a divorce, in 2001 Sharon moved to Alexander, N.D., much to the delight of her sister, brother, nieces and nephews. This is when the younger family members learned and witnessed Aunt Sharon’s “evil eye,” which was a steely-eyed glare that could scold you without saying a word. If it were possible to harness the power of that glare, we could have solved world crime.
While living in Alexander, she became an ordained Episcopal priest. Soon after, she helped fill Pulpit Supply at the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Cartwright, N.D.
In 2013, Sharon moved to Rock Springs, Wyo., with her son, Scott then later to Pinedale, Wyo. There in Pinedale, she spent many joyful moments with her son Scott and daughter-in-law Jess, her extended family and new-found friends. Better late than never, Sharon realized a long time dream and opened an art studio and gallery where she painted and displayed her work.
Sharon was an artist her entire life. In the early 1960’s, she was a founding member of the Prairie Painters Art Club in Williston, N.D., In 1980, she helped found the Rocky Mountain Artist League in Montana. One of her greatest accomplishments was being juried into the C.M. Russel Art Auction in Great Falls, Mont. She showed at many art exhibitions and her work is in numerous private collections throughout the U.S.
When Sharon saw a scene that she liked, perhaps a beautiful sky or landscape, she would become quiet and study it, creating the painting in her head to later flesh out on canvas. Some of our family’s happiest memories were spent drawing and painting with Sharon in her studio or out in nature. She was also an avid photographer, organic gardener, bread baker and accomplished seamstress. She loved animals and always had a cat with her wherever she lived.
She made the room she was in brighter and the world she was in happier for those near her. She emitted her own sunshine that warmed our hearts and fed our souls.
Sharon was called home on February 24, in Pinedale, Wyo.
She is survived by her son, Scott Aldridge (Jessica and step-grandson Jayden); brother, Ronald Jore (Nina); sister, Seleste Ferreira (John); and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Selma Jore and stepfather Art Jore; father, Leonard Anderson; and sister, Maureen Frazee.
Funeral Services for Sharon will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 11 a.m. at The Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Watford City, N.D., with Rob Favorite officiating. Sharon will be laid to rest at North Fork Trinity Cemetery in Watford City, N.D. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Watford City, N.D., and one hour prior to services at the funeral home. The service will be livestreamed directly on Sharon’s obituary page on the website. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Watford City is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.