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Arthur W. Rath, age 95, of Elgin, ND, passed away peacefully at Dakota Hills Assisted Living on the evening of February 23, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Elgin, ND.  Pastor Mike HarriSon will officiate with burial in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin, ND.  A family service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Zion Lutheran Church in Elgin.

Arthur Willie Rath was born on April 19, 1929, to Christ and Lydia (Lippert) Rath at their farm near Heil, ND.  He was the second child.

Arthur grew up on the family farm helping with farm work.  He was active in the church and was confirmed there.  He enjoyed playing softball and playing games with friends.  He attended Heil School through the 8th grade.

He met Mildred Mutschelknaus while they were with their parents visiting back and forth.  He thought she was just a skinny little girl but she liked him.  They saw a lot of each other and went to movies and dances until they decided to take the 1949 Ford to Bismarck, ND, and pick out a ring.  They married on October 19, 1950.  They were inseparable for the next 74 years.  Arthur spent his life on the farm milking cows, farming and raising pigs, all while raising their family.  He went from feeding with horses to large tractors with cabs.  Arthur and Mildred moved to Elgin in 1988.

Arthur spent 47 years bowling, traveling to tournaments as far away as Reno, NV.  He served many years on the Elgin City Council, the school board, election board, Fire District, Elm Township Board and from 1966 to the present with the Elgin Lions.  He served in many different offices and was still a Lions Board Member at his time of passing.

Arthur and Mildred enjoyed many trips; traveling to Las Vegas, Disneyland, Germany, the Black Hills, Peace Gardens, Branson, MO, Washington DC and Florida.  Some of the trips were taken with friends, Ralph and Agnes Meidinger or Arthur's sister, Irene and her husband Edgar Finck.  They truly enjoyed all their travels.

Arthur is survived by his wife of 74 years, Mildred, Elgin, ND; daughter, Sharon (Gene) Schmitz, Culbertson, MT; son-in-law, Zane Panasuk, Culbertson, MT; son, Randy (Velecia) Rath, Hazleton, ND; 19 grandchildren, Stuart, Michael (Billie), Jessica and Garret (Christi) Schmitz, Dustin (Bobbie) Grosz, Cary Cochran, Sheridan (Dan) Cotrell, Jerico Panasuk, SaVanna (Nate) Schmidt, Shane Rath, Sierra (Joe) Guches, and Sambrea (Brandon) Loftis; 32 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Bonnie Panasuk; his parents, Christ and Lydia Rath; sisters and brothers-in-law, Irene and Edgar Finck, Jarline and Bill Leno; and granddaughter, Jennifer Grosz.