– Fargo Mayor Walaker Remembered

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker, who led the city’s fight against several floods, was remembered as a North Dakota legend at his funeral.

     Hundreds turned out Sunday to say goodbye to Walaker. The three-term mayor died Tuesday at age 73, several months after he was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

     Gov. Jack Dalrymple and U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp were among those eulogizing Walaker at Reineke Fine Arts Center on the campus of North Dakota State University. A police and fire department honor guard escorted his flower-draped casket onto the stage.

   Dalrymple said Walaker will be remembered as a true North Dakota legend. Hoeven said Walaker had a gruff demeanor, but was a “teddy bear” underneath.

     Walaker spent most of his career as Fargo’s public works director.

Previously…

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Funeral services have been set for three-term Fargo mayor and longtime public works director Dennis Walaker.

     Visitation is scheduled for Saturday from 7-9 p.m. at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo. Visitation will continue Sunday at 9 a.m. at Reineke Fine Arts Center on the North Dakota State University campus before the funeral service there at 10 a.m.

     The 73-year-old Walaker died Tuesday in his home, several months after he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He told city employees that he was returning to work this week after spending a couple of days in the hospital for an adverse reaction to chemotherapy.

     He was the face of several successful flood fights and a fierce promoter of a planned Red River diversion project that would end the almost yearly spring sandbagging efforts.

Previously…

FARGO (WDAY TV) – Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker, 73, who was elected to his third term in June, died unexpectedly at his home Tuesday night, Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney said.

Walaker died at about 7 p.m., Mahoney said, and the cause could be “a variety of things.” Walaker had been battling kidney cancer for months.

Emergency medical personnel were called but unable to save Walaker, Mahoney said.

Mahoney, who was there when Walaker died, said “Denny has been like a father to me.”

Mahoney will take over as mayor. He said a meeting will be held Monday to figure out the next steps.

Walaker was hospitalized over the weekend from a reaction to his chemotherapy and was released from the hospital earlier Tuesday..

Walaker, 73, had been receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments for renal cell carcinoma, a common form of kidney cancer.

He disclosed his illness publicly Aug. 29. Walaker said his kidney cancer diagnosis came after the June city election, when voters elected him to a third and final term.