Herbert “Herb” Urlacher, 91, Dickinson, formerly of Taylor, died on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at Essentia Health, Fargo. Herb’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 4, 2023 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson with Msgr. Thomas Richter as celebrant. Interment will take place at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Deacon Leonard Krebs presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday at the church.
Herbert Urlacher was born in 1931 and grew up on the family farm near Rainy Butte outside of New England. As the 4th of 8 siblings, Herb learned the value of hard work from an early age and took on additional responsibilities as a teenager after his father suffered a stroke. Despite the hardships faced by many during that time, Herb also shared memories of his active youth, going hunting, trapping, skating and exploring Rainy Butte. His athletic prowess was on display when he took up the sport of boxing eventually earning a prized trophy as Golden Gloves Best Competitor. When he met his future wife, she helped him polish his dancing skills. Herb was not only light on his feet in the ring but also on the dance floor. His children treasure those memories of watching Mom and Dad glide across the dance floor.
Herb and Clarine began their wedded life together in 1953 at St. Patrick’s Church. They moved to a farm south of New England and then eventually settled on the family farm northeast of Taylor where they would reside until their move to Dickinson in 2009. Together with their children, Herb and Clarine milked cows, farmed and ranched. Life became even busier when Herb became an active participant in community and state-wide organizations. With his wife as his support, Herb contributed hours of public service. He began his twenty-year legislative career in 1989 in the House of Representatives for District 36 and served in the Senate from 1993-2008. His list of service and recognition include the following: Advisory Board for State Water Commission, President of the Southwest Water Resource Board, West River Joint Water Resource Board, President of North Dakota Water Users, Director of Stark County Water Resource Board, Dickinson Chamber of Commerce HYDRO Award, North Dakota Commodore Award,
Knights of Columbus, Dickinson Elks, President of Taylor School Board, St. Mary’s Church Council, and Stark County School Officers. Herb’s role in the Southwest Water Pipeline Project is the subject of a feature article to be published in the November issue of the North Dakota Water magazine.
Survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Ron (Jeanette) Urlacher, Anita (Chad) Biel, Duane (fiancé Jolene Rohde), Glenn (Karen) Urlacher, Janel (Jerry) Schiff, grandchildren Stacey Bentz, Jennifer (Aaron) Anton, Chris (JennaLee) Bollinger, Sean Bollinger, Elizabeth Bollinger (Sam Aminian), Brian (Sabina) Biel, Dan (Jana) Biel, Andrew (Lexi) Biel, Nicholas Biel, Aaron (Lisa Pavlicek) Gjermundson, Amy (John) Estrada, Apryl (Matt) Welch, Lear Rohde, Kristen (Paul) Reinowski, Sarah Urlacher, Kevin Urlacher, Alexander (Danielle) Schiff, Mason (Andrea) Schiff. Herb is survived by 39 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Monica Peterson and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by wife of 62 years, Clarine (Dassinger) Urlacher, parents George and Ethel (Thomas) Urlacher; mother and father-in-law Julia and Stephen Dassinger, daughter-in-law, Sherry Urlacher, siblings and spouses Sylvester (Jackie), Josephine (Calvin) Dubisar, Genevieve Tompers, Ralph (Bridget), Lawrence (Clem), Thomas (Connie); sisters-in-law and husbands Ann and Pete Willer, Sue and Joe Thomas, Carolyn and John Schneider, brother-in-law and wife Tony and Helen Dassinger.
Memorials will be given to the following organizations: Farm in the Dell and the Dushinsky & Jamison Water Resources Scholarship Endowment.
Herb was grateful for a life well-lived with family and friends. He would often marvel at the opportunities he had going from his sheep shearing days to the floor of the Senate. Dad, we are so proud of all you accomplished. Always the gentleman with a ready smile, he appreciated those who showed him compassion. The family wishes to thank the staff at Hawk’s Point for their care of our father Herb Urlacher the last 6 years.
Dad, we want you to know the gardens will grow, and despite our sorrow, “everyone is happy.”