Peter D. Mesling, 85, Dickinson, died peacefully on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at the Wibaux County Nursing Home, Wibaux, Mont. Pete’s service of remembrance will be at 2 p.m., Monday, July 1, 2013 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Inurnment will take place at the Dickinson Mausoleum. Visitation will be on Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Peter D. Mesling was born to Peter J. and Eva (Herberholz) Mesling near Havelock, on March 2, 1928. He attended nine years of school at Havelock and graduated from New England Public High School.
Pete married Clara Kathrein on October 15, 1964 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson. To this union Chena, Carla and Peter Adam were born.
He enjoyed farming, ranching, airplanes. Horses, and his dogs. He owned the Ford dealership in New England in the early 1960’s. His banking career started in 1963 at Citizens State Bank of New England in preparation for the opening of the new American State Bank of Dickinson in 1964, where he served as vice president through 1969. He was employed by First National Bank and Trust of Dickinson in 1970 as vice president and trust officer, and eventually became bank president. He served on the North Dakota State Banking Board from 1973 to 1981.
In 1990, he and Clara built up a 480 herd of Red Angus, an enterprise they disbursed in 2002. in later years he was an avid supporter of the North Dakota Stockman’s Assoc., and served on the NDSA Feeder Council. It was a great honor for Pete to be named NDSA Honorary member in 2010. Pete loved North Dakota and lived his whole life within 100 miles of where he grew up on a wheat farm. But was far from provincial. He traveled widely on this continent, including driving solo to and from Alaska about 12 years ago. He took his family to see all but a handful of the states in this country. He worked hard in many ways for his family, which he dearly loved.
Pete is survived by his wife, Clara; three children, Chena (Jon) Rhodes, Portland, Ore., Carla (Harley) Steffen, Beach, and Peter A. (Christine Howard) Mesling, Seattle, Wash.; and four grandchildren, Tyler Steffen, Haley Steffen, Harper Rhodes, and Thea Mesling. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter J. and Eva.
Memorials are preferred to the Wibaux County Nursing Home, or a charity of choice.
