01/21/2026
There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen q***r sights,
But the q***rest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.
Robert W. Service's poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" tells the tale of two gold miners in the Yukon and one man's "last request." The unique subject matter usually catches attention, and it’s a poem that teenagers and adults alike find interesting. As he lay dying, Sam asked his friend “to swear that, foul or fair, you'll cremate my last remains." Sam hated the cold, and he is later discovered sitting up enjoying his own cremation.
To say the least, Sam’s cremation is unusual, but the poem has a deeper meaning. Sam’s friend went through quite an ordeal to fulfill his last request, traveling through frigid temperatures until he found a suitable place to cremate his friend, for “a promise made is a debt unpaid.”
How can you ensure that your final wishes will be respected? In today’s world, you don’t need an amazing friend willing to carry you across the frozen tundra. The answer is quite simple – authorize your own cremation in advance.
Pre-planning allows you to enjoy peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be honored. We keep pre-planning simple, and we’ll help you select the options that are right for you and your family.
Contact the funeral professionals at Haut Funeral Home today at (701) 252-5701.
https://www.hautfuneralhome.com/planning-ahead/plan-ahead
Haut Funeral Home - Respect. Honor. Remember.