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Walter `Kenny' Toepke
NEW SALEM -- Walter K. ``Kenny" Toepke, 81, New Salem, died Dec. 17, 1996, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. MST at Peace Church, New Salem, with the Rev. Richard Herb officiating. Burial will be in Judson Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, New Salem, and will continue one hour before services at the church.
Kenny was born March 14, 1915, near Judson, the son of Max and Lydia (Borchardt) Toepke. He graduated from Judson High School in 1933. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1936-1940. He then married Violet Glaesemann, April 17, 1941, in New Salem. He held many different jobs during his lifetime, finding employment with the East Helena Montana Smelter and Herman Michles Coal Mine. He also owned the Toepke Bar, worked for Northern Pacific Railroad, acted as Judson Postmaster, was a rural mail carrier in New Salem and worked for the post office, retiring in 1975. He loved to travel and had been in all but four of the United States and had visited many foreign countries.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Kenny was a member of Judson Evangelical and Reformed Church in Judson and the Peace Church. He was a life member of Mandan Elks and New Salem Lions. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Central Morton County Sportsmans Club. He was twice elected vice-president of North Dakota Postmasters. He was an amateur baseball player from 1931-57. He also caught the state record coho salmon in 1978, which was recognized in Sports Afield, and also in the national magazine, Postmasters Gazette. He attended the worlds fair in San Francisco and participated in the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937 as a member of Battleship USS New Mexico's band.
Kenny will be missed by his family members and his many friends, including his wife, Violet; one daughter and son-in-law, Meredyth and Martin Werchau, New Salem; one son and daughter-in-law, David and Sharon, Winona, Minn.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Tempelton, Judson, and LaVonne Starck, Canon City, Colo.; and one brother, Gene, Judson.
He was preceded in death by one infant son.
Merle Gerdon
ELLENDALE -- Services for Merle L. Gerdon, 88, Ellendale, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale. Mr. Gerdon died Dec. 16, 1996, in the Ellendale nursing home.
Merle L. Gerdon was born Feb. 3, 1908, to Paul and Emma (Whelan) Gerdon at Forbes. This was where he grew up and attended school. Merle was married to Alice L. Griffin, Nov. 9, 1930, at Ellendale. They made their home and farmed in the Ellendale area until the fall of 1936. In the spring of 1937, they took over the operation of the Mobil Bulk Plant and were in the gas business in Ellendale for 28 years. Merle retired in 1966. He spent the next few years working with the Ellendale Police Department and Dickey County Sheriff's Office. He retired in 1973. He was inducted into the Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, Dec. 4, 1979, at Ellendale. Alice died April 20, 1993.
Merle participated in the Silver-Haired Legislature in Bismarck.
He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Myron and Marilyn, Bismarck; two brothers, Howard, Mesa, Ariz., and Edwin, Sequin, Wash.; two sisters, Myrtle Maly, Mesa, and Mildred Morrow, Northome, Minn.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one daughter, Beverly Ann, on Aug. 28, 1991; and one brother.
The family prefers memorials to Presbyterian United Methodist Church, 421 Fifth Ave. N., Ellendale, N.D. 58436 or ALS Association (Lou Gehrig's Disease), 21021 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 321, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364. (Carlsen-Holte Funeral Home, Ellendale)
Alfred Smith
HIBBING, Minn. -- Alfred C. Smith, 76, Hibbing, died Dec. 16, 1996, at his home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, Hibbing, with burial in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; two daughters, Sherry DeJarlais, Hibbing, and Jennifer Tausch, Cambridge, Minn.; one son, Dennis, Bismarck; and two brothers, Russell, Duluth, Minn., and Clifford, Roseville, Minn. (Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing)
Arthur Harstad
PLAZA -- Arthur Harstad, 69, Plaza, died Dec. 18, 1996, in a Minot hospital. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, Plaza, with burial in East Plaza Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Elna; two sons, Jerome and Jay, both of Plaza; two daughters, Pamela Jo Olson, Plaza, and Peggy Jean Reinisch, Ryder; three brothers, Orville and Jerry, both of Stanley, and Wesley, Panama City, Fla.; and four sisters, Olga Froemming, Mission Viego, Calif., Lorraine Lea, Irvine, Calif., Carol Jessen, Minot, and Beryl Dokken, Stanley. (Johnson Funeral Home, Parshall)
Ted Lautt
LEHR -- Ted F. Lautt, 77, Lehr, died Dec. 18, 1996, in the Wishek hospital. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at United Methodist Church, Lehr, with burial in Lehr Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Laura; one son, Marlo, Moorhead, Minn.; one brother, Harold, Cathay; and three sisters, Ruby Haag, New Rockford, Marie Wittmier, Hazen, and Katie Nitschke, Steele. (Haut Funeral Home, Wishek)
Donald Breyer
FESSENDEN -- Donald M. Breyer, 69, Fessenden, died Dec. 17, 1996, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Fessenden, with burial in Hillside Cemetery, Fessenden.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian; one daughter, Patricia Breyer, Cerritos, Calif.; two sons, David, Green Isle, Minn., and James, Chandler, Ariz.; and one brother, Robert, Boston. (Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden)
Alice Halvorson
CARRINGTON -- Alice Halvorson, 96, Carrington, died Dec. 14, 1996, in the Carrington nursing home. Services were Tuesday at Golden Acres Manor, Carrington, with burial in Regan Cemetery.
She is survived by one brother, Raymond Halvorson, Bismarck. (Evans Funeral Home, Carrington)
Rev. Darold Smidt
The Rev. Darold E. Smidt, 66, Kenmare, died Dec. 16, 1996, in a Minot hospital. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Kenmare, with burial at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Garrison Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons, Dan, Tucson, Ariz., and David, Overland Park, Kan.; three daughters, Darla Kratzer, Arlington Heights, Ill., Denise Fisch, Spring, Texas, and Sarah Smidt, Kenmare; and his mother, Amalia Smidt, Underwood. (Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Kenmare)
Hulda Kavanaugh
MCGREGOR -- Hulda Margaret Kavanaugh, 92, Tacoma, Wash., died Dec. 13, 1996, in Tacoma. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at McGregor Cemetery.
She is survived by three sons, Bernard and Robert, both of Tacoma, and Raymond, Ellensburg, Wash.; and three daughters, Margaret Self, Lake Bluff, Ill., Beatrice Aaberg, Tacoma, and Corinne Landgreve, Tooele, Utah. (Everson Funeral Home, Williston)
John Braun
WILTON -- John F. Braun, 91, Arthur, died Dec. 19, 1996, in the Arthur nursing home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Sunne Lutheran Church, rural Wilton. Further arrangements are pending at Goetz Funeral Home, Washburn.
Mildred Zuraff
Mildred E. Zuraff, 80, Mr. B's Estates, died Dec. 19, 1996, at her home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Eastgate Funeral Service. Further arrangements are pending.
Frances Hoffman
DICKINSON -- Frances H. Hoffman, 88, Dickinson, died Dec. 19, 1996, in the Dickinson hospital. Arrangements are pending at Price-Murphy Funeral Home, Dickinson.
Walter Toepke
NEW SALEM -- Walter K. "Kenny" Toepke, 81, New Salem, died Dec. 18, 1996, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. MST Monday at Peace Church, New Salem, with the Rev. Richard Herb officiating. Burial will be in Judson Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. today and Sunday at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, New Salem, and will continue one hour before services at the church.
Kenny was born March 14, 1915, near Judson, the son of Max and Lydia (Borchardt) Toepke. He graduated from Judson High School in 1933. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1936-1940. He married Violet Glaesemann on April 17, 1941, in New Salem. He held many different jobs during his lifetime, finding employment with the East Helena Montana Smelter and Herman Michles Coal Mine. He also owned the Toepke Bar, worked for Northern Pacific Railroad, acted as Judson Postmaster, was a rural mail carrier in New Salem, and worked for the post office, retiring in 1975. He loved to travel and had been in all but four of the United States and had visited many foreign countries.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Kenny was a member of Judson Evangelical and Reformed Church in Judson and the Peace Church. He was a life member of Mandan Elks and New Salem Lions. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Central Morton County Sportsmans Club. He was twice elected vice-president of North Dakota Postmasters. He was an amateur baseball player from 1931-1957. He also caught the state record coho salmon in 1978, which was recognized in Sports Afield, and also in the national magazine, Postmasters Gazette. He attended the world's fair in San Francisco and participated in the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937, as a member of Battleship USS New Mexico's band.
Kenny will be missed by his family members and his many friends, including his wife, Violet; one daughter and son-in-law, Meredyth and Martin Werchau, New Salem; one son and daughter-in-law, David and Sharon, Winona, Minn.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Tempelton, Judson, and LaVonne Starck, Canon City, Colo.; and one brother, Gene, Judson.
He was preceded in death by one infant son.
Mildred Zuraff
Mildred E. Zuraff, 80, Mr. B's Estates, died Dec. 19, 1996, at her home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Eastgate Funeral Service, with the Revs. Richard Hagestuen and Stanley Malmgren officiating. Burial will be in Sterling Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. today and Sunday at the funeral home.
Mildred E. Hanson was born April 18, 1916, in Kidder County, the daughter of Harry and Laura (Horn) Hanson. She was raised and educated at the Apple Creek Station and Sterling. Mildred married Henry Zuraff June 22, 1937, in Mandan. They farmed in the Sterling area until moving into Sterling in 1964. Henry died in 1972. Mildred remained in Sterling until moving to Bismarck in 1984. She was employed with Home Health Care and helped raise three of her grandsons. Mildred enjoyed family and friends. She will always be remembered with love and admiration for her knowledge of dates and family history.
She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Jim Young, Cleveland, Tenn.; five sons and three daughters-in-law, Donald K. and Diane, Frenchtown, Mont., Dennis E. and Edda, Fayetteville, N.C., Dean R. and Ronald R., both of Bismarck, Howard L., Sublette, Kan., and Maxine Zuraff, Hebron; 22 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and Vernon Freimarck, Lodi, Calif.; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Lloyd and Carrie Hanson, Bismarck; and Clifford Hanson, Washburn.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry; one son, Harold; and one brother, LaVern Hanson.
Darold Smidt
UNDERWOOD -- The Rev. Darold E. Smidt, 66, Kenmare, died Dec. 16, 1996, in a Minot hospital. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Augustana Lutheran Church, Underwood, with burial at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Garrison Cemetery. (Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Underwood)
Christine Reinbold
STRASBURG -- Christine Reinbold, 86, Strasburg, died Dec. 20, 1996, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Strasburg. Further arrangements are pending at Myers Funeral Home, Linton.
Joseph Eberle
HAGUE -- Joseph Eberle, 77, Hague, died Dec. 20, 1996, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hague. Further arrangements are pending at Myers Funeral Home, Linton.
Agatha Wagner
STRASBURG -- Agatha Wagner, 59, Strasburg, died Dec. 20, 1996, at her home of apparent heart failure. Arrangements are pending at Myers Funeral Home, Linton.
John Braun
ARTHUR -- John F. Braun, 91, Arthur, died Dec. 19, 1996, in the Arthur nursing home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Sunne Lutheran Church, rural Wilton, with burial in Riverview Cemetery, Wilton.
He is survived by his wife, Lulu; one daughter, Doris Schmitt, West Fargo; and two sisters, Ida Seibold, Apache Junction, Ariz., and Louise Eggleston, Seattle. (Goetz Funeral Home, Washburn)
Esther Buerkle
FREDONIA -- Esther Buerkle, 84, Fredonia, died Dec. 20, 1996, in the Ashley nursing home. Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Kulm, with burial in the Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fredonia.
She is survived by three daughters, Norma Himmerich, Fargo, Ruby Presler, Fredonia, and Doris Noren, Jamestown; one son, Elroy, Lignite; and one sister, Ruth Schlenker, Wishek. (Haut Funeral Home, Wishek)
Alfred Smith
HIBBING, Minn. -- Services for Alfred C. Smith, 76, lifelong Hibbing resident, were Friday at First Lutheran Church, Hibbing, with burial in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing. Military rites will be by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8510 and American Legion Post No. 222, both of Hibbing. He died Dec. 16, 1996, in his home.
Alfred was born Jan. 13, 1920, at Hibbing, to Charles and Ingebore "Erickson" Smith. He married Ruth Smith, June 21, 1941. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Asia-Pacific Theater. He had been employed with U.S. Steel for 41 years, retiring from its Minntac Plant in 1981 as an expediter.
He was an avid bowler, golfer, hunter and fisherman. He was a member of VFW Post No. 8510, American Legion Post No. 222, Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 3, Horseshoe Club and First Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sherry and Bob DeJarlais, Hibbing, and Jennifer and Jim Tausch, Cambridge, Minn.; one son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Joyce, Bismarck; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Russell and Anne, Duluth, and Clifford and Mary, Roseville, Minn.; six grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and cousins. (Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing)
Adrian Reuschlein
Adrian Lee Reuschlein, 58, Robinson, died Dec. 20, 1996, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Robinson. Spring burial will be in Bethany Cemetery, Robinson.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, at Eastgate Funeral Chapel, Steele, and will continue one hour prior to services, at the church.
Adrian was born Oct. 9, 1938, in Steele, the son of Herbert and Carrie (Sloan) Reuschlein. He was raised northeast of Robinson and educated in Buckeye and Lake Williams rural schools. He married Eula Mae Morton June 11, 1976. Adrian and Eula Mae raised three boys and two girls whom he loved very much. He loved fishing, outdoors and traveling. He also loved spending time with his friends and family. Adrian will be remembered for his carpentry work and his good nature.
He is survived by his wife, Eula Mae Reuschlein, Robinson; four children, Wanda Reuschlein and her fiance Michael Mehlhoff, Scot Reuschlein, Tonja and Mark Thomasson, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Wade Jasmann and his fiancee Marlene Rippley, Colorado Springs; five grandchildren, Heather, Larus and Leah Thomasson, and Timothy and Ryan Rippley; one sister, Erma Nelson, Dillon, Mont.; one half-sister, Dolly Williamson, Bowdon; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Carrie Reuschlein; two half-brothers, Dean and William Brady; one brother, Dale Reuschlein; and one stepson, Wayne Jasmann.
Joseph Weichel
Joseph F. Weichel, 74, 1328 Richmond Drive, Bismarck, died Dec. 21, 1996, at his home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at Church of the Ascension, Bismarck, with the Rev. Marvin Klemmer officiating. Burial will be in North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue one prior to services, at the church. A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Joseph F. Weichel was born Dec. 16, 1922 in Emmons County, the son of Joe and Barbara (Schwab) Weichel. He was raised and educated in the Oddessa School District.
Joe served in the United States Air Force from May 25, 1943, to June 3, 1946. He reached the rank of corporal and also earned a Good Conduct Medal. He married Irene Jacob June 15, 1954 in Strasburg. Joe worked at Ted's Transfer for 15 years and also for Capitol Laundry for 13 years. He retired in 1985. After his retirement, Joe worked part-time for the Bismarck Civic Center.
He was a member of the American Legion. Joe will always be remembered for his ability to fix nearly anything.
He is survived by his wife, Irene, Bismarck; one daughter and son-in-law, Angeline and Terry Trottier, Mandan; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Joe C. Weichel, and Ray and Shawna Weichel, all of Bismarck; seven grandchildren; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Carl and Helen Weichel, and Tony Weichel, all of Bismarck, and Lawrence and Rose Weichel, Strasburg; and three sisters, Elizabeth Weichel, Bismarck, Margaret Nicholas, Strasburg, and Rose Schaffer, Great Falls, Mont.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Catherine; and one brother, Mike.
