Don Marley Baesler, age 78 of New Leipzig, ND passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, February 12, 2014 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin with his family at his side.

The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014 at 11:00am MST at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Leipzig with Pastor John Amundson officiating. Burial will be on Tuesday, February 18, at 2:00pm CST at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan. Full military honors will be provided by the Baesler-Achtenberg American Legion Post #211 of New Leipzig and the Mandan VFW.

Serving as casketbearers are Steven and Lowell Baesler, Richard and Rudy Vantongeren, Lee, Chancellor, and Mitchel Baesler. Emily, Michelle, and Vanessa Vantongeren are considered honorary bearers.

A memorial has been established.

Don was born December 13, 1935 to Emil and Marie (Stern) Baesler in New Leipzig, ND. He grew up on the family farm 7 miles north of New Leipzig. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960 being stationed in Germany. During his term of duty, he also visited Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and Austria.

On March 7, 1964, Don was united in marriage to Eileen Martin in Hebron, ND at the German Congregational Church. They resided at the family farm north of New Leipzig and after many years of farming, Don rented out the land and continued working for area farmers. They moved into New Leipzig in 2008 and lived in an apartment where he continued to work at a local anhydrous plant until a stroke in January of 2012 didn't allow him to work anymore. Don had a passion for recycling metal and you could often see him at the local dump grounds scrounging for treasures.

Don is survived by his wife, Eileen, New Leipzig, ND; 2 sons, Steven Baesler, Charlotte, NC; Lowell Baesler, Mandan, ND; 2 daughters, Lynette (Chris) Vantongeren, Yorktown Heights, NY, and Denise Baesler and fiancé Jeff Wruck, New Leipzig, ND; 1 sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Clifford Okken, Glendale, AZ; 2 brothers and 1 sister-in-law, Dean Baesler, Bowman, ND; and Duane and Helen Baesler, Williston, ND; 8 grandchildren, Rudy, Richard, Michelle, Emily, and Vanessa Vantongeren; Lee, Mitchel, and Chancellor Baesler, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, and an infant brother, Albert Emil Baesler.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 to 7:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin and on Monday one hour prior to services at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Leipzig.