Ralph Hartman, 84, Manning, ND, died Friday, October 5, 2007 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. Ralph’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Killdeer with Fr. James Shea as the celebrant. Interment will follow at the Killdeer Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Killdeer American Legion Ezra Barrows post #46. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday at the church in Killdeer. There will be a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., Monday at the church.
Ralph Hartman was born July 29, 1923 at Whetstone, ND, the son of Christ and Victoria (Schmalz) Hartman. He was raised and educated in the Fayette area having attended Fayette School #1. Ralph served in the military from November 29, 1945 to his honorable discharge on November 27, 1946. During this time he was in the Army Air Force prior to being transferred to the U.S. Army.
Ralph married Marcella Lesmeister on September 23, 1947 in Halliday, ND. In 1948, Ralph took over the family farm and together they have farmed, ranched and raised their family here. He loved music, starting on a banjo, pump organ and eventually playing the accordion. The community where they lived had a dance band known has the Melody Kings and Ralph played the accordion with this band.
Ralph was a member of the Killdeer American Legion, the Killdeer Saddle Club, the Elks and had also served on several boards for the county and the community.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Marcella; their four children, Chris Hartman, Dickinson, Sharon (Marc) Schulz, Riverdale, ND, Nancy Taton, McKinney, TX, and Bonny (Bob) Brew, Killdeer; two sisters, Lea Allan, Pasco, WA, and Helen (Lyle) Hahn, Orange, CA; one brother, Ed (Shirley) Hartman, Dickinson; eight grandchildren, Ryan Hartman, Tyler Hartman, Marcy Feyereisn, Aleya McGill, Haley Taton, John Gatzky, Casey Brew and Tara Brew; and three great-grandchildren, Brendon Feyereisn, Haley Gatzke and Natalie McGill. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Lee Jay Hartman; one brother, Lee Hartman; one sister, Pauline Decker; and a daughter-in-law, Ranae Hartman.
