Peter J. Meier, 91, died Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City. Peter’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 14, 2010 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Todd Kreitinger as the celebrant and assisted by Deacon Tony Wanner. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Military honors will follow the mass and be provided by the Dickinson Honors Team. Visitation will be on Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. There will be a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service, with Fr. Todd Kreitinger and Deacon Tony Wanner presiding.
Peter Joachim Meier was born March 15, 1919 in Zeeland, the son of Joachim and Juliana (Yessel) Meier. He was raised and educated in Zeeland. Peter married Regina Bosch on November 7, 1938 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Towner.
He worked for the Great Northern Railroad out of Minot and also maintenance for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Minot. Peter went on to serve his country honorably in the United States Navy from May 23, 1944 through November 10, 1945. During this time he served in the Pacific Theater and was a Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class at the time of his discharge.
Peter farmed in the Zeeland and Bottineau areas until the Fall of 1954 when they moved to Colorado Springs, Colo. to work at carpentry. Having only a saw and hammer when he arrived in Colorado, his boss let him use all the tools he needed. In 1955 Peter became a self employed contractor. They resided in Willow City for a period of time and he built the 1st National Bank and several homes in Towner prior to moving to Georgia. While in Georgia he got Philip started in carpentry, and a move to Grants Pass, Ore. followed and they resided there until 2005 when they moved to the Veterans Home in Lisbon.
Peter belonged to the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed carpentry work, reading, working in the garden, going dancing, and traveling.
Peter is survived by his wife, Regina; their seven children, Mary Ann (Anton) Wanner, Dickinson, Gerald (Anita) Meier, Grants Pass, Ore., Robert Meier, Lisbon, Loretta (Howard) Brooks, Bono, Ark., Louise Turner, Lisle, Ill., Michael (Vickie) Meier, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Philip (Susan) Meier, Dawsonville, Ga.; 19 grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Anton (Julia) Meier, Napoleon and Sebastian Meier, Zeeland; and one sister-in-law, Ann Meier, Buffalo, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Magdalena, Mary, Sr. Gemella, OSB, Anna and Julia; brothers, Joachim, Ben, Adam, John, Frank and Joseph; and two infant grandsons.
