John Barth, 94, Dickinson, died Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Services for John will be held at a later date at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
John Barth was born April 14, 1920 at Rosebud, in Oliver County rural Mandan, N.D., the son of Frank and Mary (Zander) Barth. He was raised on the family farm in Oliver County and was educated in Yucca, N.D. He remained on the farm until he joined the United States Army Air Force on February 21, 1942. During WWII he completed several service schools including fighter Aircraft Technical School. He served in the U.S. and China-Burma-India Theater as an Air Operations Specialist. He was promoted to Sergeant on August 14, 1945 and received the Good Conduct Award and Distinguished Unit Badge. He served until his honorable discharge on December 6, 1945. After his discharge he received his GED in 1946.
In 1946 John attended Capitol Commercial College earning a degree in accounting. He worked at the Capitol in Bismarck as a statistician in the Workmen’s Compensation Bureau where he met the love of his life Eleanor Helm on the elevator. They united in marriage on his Birthday April 14, 1948 in Bismarck. He then went to work for H.A. Thompson and Sons in Bismarck. Later he joined his father in law in his plumbing business. In 1959 they made their home in Dickinson where he started John Barth Plumbing and Heating which he maintained until his retirement.
He was a member of the Elks, American Legion, and VFW. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, restoring old cars, tinkering, and could always be counted on for being there for, listening, and helping anyone that needed help. His love he had for his family will always be remembered.
John is survived by his wife Eleanor of 66 years, two daughters, Sandra Botteicher, Dickinson, and Pamela (Darwin) Becker, Dickinson; four grandchildren Jason (Tremaine) Badinger, Amy (Jorge) Guzman, Aric (Mendi) Graff and Alexandra Botteicher; six great-grandchildren; siblings, Roy (Donna) Barth, Bismarck, Emil Barth, Bismarck, Katherine Adams, California, and Polly Pearson, Richmond, Texas; and brother-in-law, Leonard Nelson, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Joe, Frank, and Tony; sister, Rose Nelson, infant sister, Matilda Barth; and an infant daughter.
