PARK RIVER, ND : Walsh County vet dies in crash on Friday, November, 24th 2017

Dr. Gerard Dahl had a lot of adventures as a veterinarian in Walsh County, from finding the first suspected case of West Nile in a North Dakota animal to treating the state's famous albino buffalo shortly after birth.

But the well-known veterinarian who died Friday, Nov. 24, in a car crash near his hometown will be remembered for his love of his Norwegian heritage, his kind treatment of animals and his friendly smile as he worked with ranchers, his friends said Saturday.

"He was always smiling, always an encourager to others," said Jeanette Bjornstad, a Walsh County and friend of Dahl. "This is going to leave a big void in the livestock industry here."

The 75-year-old who owned the Park River Veterinary Clinic was involved in a Friday morning crash with a semi about 6 miles west of Park River on North Dakota Highway 17, according to a release from the state Highway Patrol. At 10 a.m., Dahl was westbound in a 2016 Ford F250 on the highway and tried to turn left onto state Highway 32 when a 1996 Peterbilt semi hit the pickup's passenger side, according to the report.

The driver of the semi, 55-year-old James Oliver Gustafson, of Adams, N.D., was treated for unknown injuries and was wearing his seat belt, according to the report. Officers determined Dahl did not have a seat belt and was fatally injured, according to the Highway Patrol.

Park River is about 60 miles northwest of Grand Forks.

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Walsh County vet dies in crash