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Chandler Bentz
Chandler Daniel Bentz, infant son of Daniel and Julie (Buchholz) Bentz, LaMoure, N.D., was born and died May 21, 2001, at Oakes Community Hospital, Oakes, N.D.
He is survived by his parents; three brothers, Donovan, Damien and Austin Bentz, all at home; his grandparents, Darrell and Julie Bentz, Eureka, S.D., Frank and Vicki Meier, Zeeland, N.D., and Ray Buchholz, Higley, Ariz.; and his great-grandparents, Letha Wiles, Dell Rapids, S.D., Hilmer Rath, Wishek, N.D., and Bertha Bentz, Eureka.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, May 24, First Presbyterian Church, LaMoure, with the Revs. Tony Serbousek and Dan Schnabel officiating. Arrangements by Dahlstrom Funeral Home, LaMoure.
Burial: Artas Cemetery, Herreid, S.D.
Viola Opp
Viola M. Opp, 77, Brush, Colo., died Dec. 10, 2000, at East Morgan County Hospital, Brush, Colo.
Viola M. Scackman was born Nov. 21, 1923, at Turtle Lake, N.D., the daughter of Emanuel and Marie (Fandrich) Sackman. She married Reinhold Opp of Medina, N.D., June 2, 1944. They attended Yankton College where she pursued a teacher's training program and he studied for the ministry. They served Congregational Churches in Alpena, S.D.; Plevna, Mont.; Paul, Idaho; Hebron, N.D.; and Brush, Colo. She was active in the church and provided leadership to the Sunday school, choir and women's fellowship. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in 1966, she taught elementary school in the Brush School District until retiring in 1984. She enjoyed music and flowers.
She is survived by three daughters, Lilas Lindell, Salt Lake City, Utah, Karen Pratte, Waterville, Iowa, and Julie Armstrong, Des Moines, Iowa; two brothers, Harold, Turtle Lake, N.D., and Marvin, Bolivar, Mo.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and a grandson.
Memorial services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, Zion Congregational Church, Medina, with the Rev. Karl Limvere officiating.
Burial: Medina Cemetery, Medina.
Brent Tahran
Master Sgt. Brent Jon Tahran, 46, Colorado Springs, Colo., died suddenly of heart failure Friday, May 18, 2001, at his home.
Mr. Tahran was born Jan. 24, 1955, at Hutchinson, Minn., the son of the Rev. Elmo and Arva Dell (McCoy) Tahran. He grew up in Minot, N.D., later moving to Bloomfield Hills, Mich., where he graduated in 1973 from Bloomfield Hills Andover High School. He attended Specs Howard School of Broadcasting, where he completed his degree in broadcasting. He later attended Northwestern College in Traverse City, Mich., where he performed in the Community Music Theatre. He studied broadcasting and music at Northwestern Bible College, Roseville, Minn. He worked for Ford Motor Company, Detroit, Mich., in the Research and Development Department. In 1980 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force graduating with honors. His assignments were in Nevada, Arizona, Korea, Italy, and Colorado Springs. While stationed in Italy for five years he pursued his interest in and study of art throughout Europe. He earned several Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals and Ribbons.
He is survived by his mother, Jamestown; three sisters, Renee' (Rich) Sky, Jamestown, Randa (John) Helmberger, Roseville, and Ramona (Paul) Kolanek, Commerce, Mich.; a brother, Bryce (Karen), Jamestown; and a special friend, Barbara Davies, Minnetonka, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his father; and his grandparents, the Rev. N.E. and Lillian McCoy, and William and Rose Tahran.
Services: 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 25, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Jamestown, with the Revs. Bryce Tahran and Donald Crippen officiating. Arrangements by Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown.
Burial: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown.
Merle Kracht
Merle G. Kracht, 72, Benton City, Wash., died Tuesday, May 15, 2001, at Hillcrest Manor, Sunnyside, Wash.
Mr. Kracht was born Aug. 13, 1928, at Courtenay, N.D., the son of Otto and Mae (Van Winkle) Kracht. He married Irene Genieva Wegman in 1949 at Moorhead, Minn. He worked for Ford Motor Company for 32 years, then for Anderson Equipment before retiring in 1983. He enjoyed fishing and boating.
He is survived by his wife; two sons, Jim and Kelly, both Tacoma, Wash.; three daughters, Susan Porter, Potlatch, Idaho, Connie Kracht, Tacoma, and Edna Bunch, Owens, Ala.; five brothers, Bertal, Kensal, N.D., Bernard, Valley City, N.D., Otto, Jamestown, Kenneth, Carrington, N.D., and Robert, Yakima, Wash.; two sisters, Edith Zurface, Garrison, N.D., and Grace Diede, Jamestown; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Bertha and Peggy.
Private memorial services: held May 16, Benton City. Arrangements by Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside.
Memorials: to the Salvation Army.
LeRoy Bischoff
LeRoy W. Bischoff, 59, Jamestown, died Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at Jamestown Hospital, Jamestown.
Mr. Bischoff was born June 2, 1941, in Jamestown, the son of William Frederick and Lucille (Schumacher) Bischoff. He grew up and attended school in Park River, N.D. He spent many years working as a carpenter, drove school bus for Spiritwood School District four 14 years and his most recent employment was with AVIKO Potato Plant as a fork lift operator. He married Judy Enzminger in 1969, in Denver, Colo. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and camping.
He is survived by his wife; four daughters, Cyndy (Monte) Rodacker, Jamestown, LeAnn (Doyal) Olson, Thief River, Minn., and Sandra (Rick) Myers and Tina Bischoff, both Spiritwood; a son, Tracy (Cheryl), Palm Bay, Fla.; a sister, Janet Egan, Jamestown; and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 25, Eddy Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, with the Rev. Bryce Tahran officiating. Arrangements by Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown.
Burial: Courtenay Cemetery, Courtenay.
Kenneth Phillips
Kenneth Ralph Phillips, 87, Edgeley, N.D., died Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at Manor St. Joseph, Edgeley.
Mr. Phillips was born May 19, 1914, at Ellendale, N.D., the son of William and Mattie (Lynde) Phillips. He grew up and attended school at Ellendale. From 1934-35 he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps at Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Minn. In 1937 he attended a master airplane mechanics and welders school in Lincoln, Neb. He lived for many years in Jamestown, and also lived in Forman, Rutland, and Michigan, N.D. On Nov. 27, 1992, he entered Manor St. Joseph, Edgeley.
He is survived by a son, Kenneth (Janet), Aberdeen, S.D.; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and five brothers.
Services: 3 p.m. May 25, Manor St. Joseph, Edgeley.
Burial: Ellendale Cemetery, Ellendale.
Dwight Rau
Dwight Rau, 84, Napoleon, N.D., died Tuesday, May 22, 2001, northeast of Napoleon due to an automobile accident.
Mr. Rau was born Dec. 25, 1916, at the family farm home northeast of Napoleon, the son of Fred and Magdalena (Raile) Rau. He attended the local rural school, where he received his elementary education and grew up in the vicinity. He married Hertha Veil Oct. 20, 1955, near Gackle, N.D. They lived and farmed on the family farm northeast of Napoleon. She died Nov. 5, 1993. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Streeter, N.D. He enjoyed flying, hunting, and playing the banjo, accordion and piano. In his retirement years he enjoyed running summer pasture cattle, yard work and driving around the country side.
He is survived by a son, Myron, Napoleon; four daughters, Lois (Kenneth) Ruff, Streeter, Marjorie (Merlyn) DeRider, Clovis, Minn., Norma (Nathan) Hochhalter, Cleveland, N.D., and Debra Rau (Ted Schneider), Napoleon; a sister, Clara Weixel, Bismarck; and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a son, James; three brothers; and three sisters.
Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26, United Methodist Church, Streeter, with the Rev. Grant Piehl officiating. Arrangements by Haut Funeral Homes, Gackle.
Burial: Hope Cemetery, southwest of Streeter.
Elbert Van Ornum
Elbert Hiel Van Ornum, 79, Edgeley, N.D., died Monday, May 21, 2001, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Cancer Home, St. Paul, Minn.
Mr. Van Ornum was born Sept. 24, 1921, on the family farm near Berlin, N.D., the son of Arthur and Harriet (Currier) Van Ornum. He grew up and attended school in the Berlin area, graduating from high school May 26, 1938, as valedictorian. He attended Jamestown College, Jamestown, graduating with a degree in mathematics and physics. In October 1942 he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he achieved the rank of first lieutenant, serving as a navigator and bombardier instructor for A-26s. He was preparing to leave for Japan, when the war ended. Following his discharge, he married Dorothy Littrick Sept. 20, 1945, at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He attended Akron (Ohio) University, where he earned a degree in chemistry. He returned to Berlin and farmed with his father. In 1957 he became a principal of Edgeley High School and also taught math and science. He attended Northern State University, Aberdeen, S.D., and earned his master’s degree in educational administration in 1966. From 1966-86, he was Edgeley’s superintendent of schools. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Lions Club, Jamestown Masonic Lodge, Jamestown York Rite, El Zagal Shrine, Disabled American Veterans and Order of the Eastern Star. He was involved in community activities, church and various clubs including the golf club and genealogy. He enjoyed collecting dominoes.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Marilyn Louise Van Ornum (fiance, David Johnson), Minneapolis, Minn.; and Joanne Renee Lerud, Arvada, Colo.; a son, Barry Arthur (Sheila Ann), Woodbury, Minn.; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services: 11 a.m. May 25, Edgeley School, Edgeley. Arrangements by Lisko Funeral Chapel, Edgeley.
Burial: Berlin Cemetery, Berlin.
