Funeral services for Bernhard Dietz, age 87 of New Leipzig, will be held at 10:00am MT Monday, June 23, 2008 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Leipzig with Pastor Ken Trana, officiating.

Burial will be at 3:00 CT on Monday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan with full military honors afforded by the Baesler-Achtenberg American Legion Post #211 of New Leipzig and the Mandan VFW 707.


Special music will be provided by Marjorie Mueller.


Serving as casketbearers are Alroy Hochhalter, Bruce Mutschelknaus, Allen Hummel, Delmar Dietz, Chester Dietz and Troy Kellogg. All friends and relatives are considered honorary bearers.


Bernhard's grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth Dietz came from Germany through Russia, New York and Hebron and later homesteaded one mile east of Elgin. Their son Albert homesteaded south of New Leipzig and later married Karolina Hummel from north of Mott on May 9, 1912. Bernhard was born on the family farm on March 24, 1921. He was the fourth of five children, Ida, William, Reinhold, and Ella. Bernhard helped his dad with the farm work until he joined the Army in 1944 and was in training at Camp Fannin, Texas where he received a ten dollar war bond and an expert medal for being the top shooter out of 140 people. He was later sent to Camp Stoneman, CA; Guam; Lydte Island and Mindinowa where he was hurt and sent back to Lydte Island to the hospital.


After returning from the hospital he was put on the II list to make a beach attack in Japan. He never had to go to Japan because the atomic bomb was released on Hiroshima, Japan and he was sent to Manila for his trip home. Upon their trip home one of the four engines on the plane quit halfway from Manila to Guam. They used more fuel then they should have, but were able to make it to Guam where they got another plane to make the rest of the trip to San Francisco.


After being discharged in 1946 he returned to the family farm where he bought more land and a new tractor. Burnhard was married and raised a stepson, Joe Bill. In 1948 Bernhard got the flying bug and purchased his first airplane. In the winter of 1949-50 he flew many people to their homes that were not able to get to their cattle. He took people to the hospital that had emergencies. His plane was a two seater and had skis on it which helped him to land on the snow.


Bernhard loved to dance and roller skate and this is where he met Gerty Heindyke. She had five sons, Eugene, Robert, and Kenny who resided with Kenneth, their father and Tracey and Troy who resided with her. They married in 1968 and together they had one son, Terry. Gerty was a great cook and seamstress and kept the family well fed and clothed.


Later on Bernhard purchased a plane with four seats where the family would take many trips to visit friends and family. He took friends to Wyoming, Iowa, and Montana to pick up parts. With Bernhard's love to dance it took him on many trips to Mobridge, Glendive, Sidney MT, and Williston for dances.


Bernhard moved to Dakota Hills Housing in 2007 and continued to make many trips to his farm on an almost daily basis. In his spare time, Bernard enjoyed visiting many new and old friends. He passed away on Wednesday, June 18, at the Jacobson Memorial Care Center in Elgin.


Surviving family members include one son, Terry Dietz, Bismarck, ND; six stepsons, Joe Bill, Troy Kellogg, Tracey Kellogg, Kenny Kellogg, Robert Kellogg and Eugene Kellogg; one sister Ella Ochs, Lodi, CA; one sister-in-law Ruby Dietz, New Leipzig, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Karolina Dietz; one sister Ida Lippert and two brothers William and Reinhold Dietz.


A memorial has been established.