Francis B. “Sam” Deichert, 55, Dickinson, died Thursday, June 11, 2015 from accidental drowning at Patterson Lake, Dickinson. Sam’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Keith Streifel as the celebrant. Interment will follow at the Dickinson Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Dickinson Honors Team. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with a rosary & vigil at 6 p.m., with Deacon Al Schwindt presiding.
Francis was born April 2, 1960, to Bernard F. and Joan E. (Roll) Deichert in Bismarck. He was raised on the family farm, Raleigh, and attended school at St. Gertrude’s. After graduating high school, Francis did various jobs around North Dakota before working in the oil fields in the Dickinson area. In 1981, he joined the US Army. He was honorably discharged and moved back to the family farm.
He married Shirley “Sood” Svihl July 26, 1986, in Colorado. His career in the oil fields took Francis to Texas, Colorado, Venezuela, and back to Dickinson. He worked his way up and his last position was a consultant with Badlands Consulting working for XTO Energy. His passions were his family, his work, and riding his Harley Davidson. He loved camping, fishing, and visiting the family farm.
He is survived by his two daughters, Nicole Deichert, Dickinson, and Lisa (Mack) Elmer, Hebron; two grandsons, Robert Deichert and Lennox Elmer; his parents, Bernard and Joan, Mandan; three sisters, Sara Evenson (Lee Glass), Norma Epping, all from Fargo, and Priscilla (Bryan) Kastrow, Mandan; several nieces, nephews, and all his friends and coworkers. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Ron Epping.
