Frank Anton Bergenheier, 85, Dickinson, was called home by God, Jesus our Savior, and our Blessed Mother on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 5:20 a.m., at the St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Frank’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 15, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Todd Kreitinger presiding. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military honors will be provided by the Dickinson Honors Team. Visitation will be on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, and will continue on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the church. There will be a rosary & vigil at 4 p.m., Sunday at Ladbury Funeral Service, with Deacon Ryan Nelson presiding.
He was born on November 17, 1930, in Richardton, to Helen (Gallagher) and Frank Bergenheier. Frank was raised on a farm near Richardton and enjoyed the farm and spending time with his best buddies Nick Rehling and Eddie Pechtl. As he grew up, he worked for his Uncle Jake and Aunt Ann Palm on their farm and had countless hours of laughter with the Fred and Lottie Rummel family and other cousins.
After finishing high school, Frank joined the Army on March 6, 1953 and completed basic training in Ft. Leonardwood, Mo., as a Combat Construction Specialist. He was stationed in Korea and received an honorable discharge on February 11, 1955. Frank took great pride in the military and throughout his life, he prayed for the soldiers serving our nation to protect and provide freedom. Many times one would see him cry during the news when he would see death due to war.
On September 27, 1955, Frank married Ann Friedt at St. Placidous church in Mott. From this union, they adopted three children: Denise, Kevin, and Calvin. When talking about his adopted children, he would hold his heart and say, “you were mine when they placed you in my arms.”
Frank started managing elevators in February, 1956 with the first elevator starting in Mott. Frank and Ann left Mott and had the privilege of working with farmers in the following elevators as he accepted other management positions: Watauga, S.D.; Milette, S.D.; Reeder; and Ashley. Frank completed courses with the Farmers Union grain Terminal Association in 1959 and the South Dakota Wheat Growers Association in 1965. In 1976, Frank accepted a position with the U.S.D.A. department and inspected grain elevators until September, 1976. In 1981, Frank accepted a management position in Havre, Mont., and returned to Dickinson in 1988 to retire from the grain industry.
After retirement, one of the most exciting positions he had was as the weather observer for the Dickinson airport from 1988 – 2003. He enjoyed determining the weather and providing pilots with information needed for them to land. He never lost his love for the weather! Looking at the clouds, sunrises, sunsets, feeling the soil, watching crops and gardens grow were a passion. He could place his hand on a window and guess the temperature within 4 degrees – even as recent as December, 2015.
As a young man, Frank enjoyed playing the harmonica, a skill not heard of much these days! But his passion was fishing, camping, and making rosaries. Frank started making rosaries June 5, 2002 and quit in October, 2012. During this time, Frank made 10,500 rosaries for the Rosary Makers of America and the Living Rosary Organization. Missions throughout the world have received these rosaries with the belief that God and the Blessed Mother will bring hope and love into people’s lives.
Frank became a member of the Knights of Columbus in Mott on November 1, 1956 and became a Fourth Degree member on June 1, 1978 with his eight brothers-in-law and Alex Friedt, Sr., his father-in-law. He received the National Defense Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal. In 1964, Frank received a Dale Carnegie award for human resource management and effective speaking.
He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Msgr. George P. Aberle Assembly 790; American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, and Rosary Makers of America.
Blessed to have shared his life is his devoted wife, Ann; his daughter, Denise (Warren) Martz, Ashley, grandsons: Collin and Colton; son, Kevin (Elaine), Carson City, Nev.; grandsons: Jaydan, Michael, Paxton, and Blake; great-grandsons: Myles and Roman; son, Calvin, Salt Lake City, Utah; and two granddaughters: Jessica and Victoria; great-granddaughter, Chloe. His sisters, Agnes (Lester) Voegle, Billings, Mont., and Helen Bleth, Dickinson; brothers-in-law, and special friends: Bill and Pat Friedt, Val and Jeanette Friedt, Lilian Friedt, Josie Friedt, Emma Friedt, Leona Friedt, Burt and Mary Nehl, Kathy, Leah, Jason, and Nick Himmelspach, and Boyd, Keri, James, and Corban Cox; and many nieces and nephews in the Bergenheier and Friedt families.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Inez Friedt and Frances Goetz; and father and mother-in-law, Alex and Anna Friedt, Sr.
