Edwin E. Hochhalter, age 94 of Glen Ullin, ND, formerly of New Leipzig, ND passed away on Friday, August 23, 2019 at the Marian Manor Care Center in Glen Ullin.

The Funeral Service will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Leipzig with Pastor John Amundson officiating.  Fr. Kregg Hochhalter will preside over the committal service on Thursday at 11:00 am at the Congregational Cemetery in New Leipzig.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 27 ^th from 4:00-7:00 pm with a service for family and friends at 7:00pm all at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin, ND.

Edwin was born the fourth child of Jacob F. and Mary (Klein) Hochhalter. Edwin's father was born in South Russia; his mother was born in Romania and were immigrants to the United States. Edwin was born in 1925 – on the family farm nine miles south of New Leipzig, North Dakota – before the "Dirty Thirties" and amidst the "Roaring Twenties", and part of what popular culture today refers to as "The Greatest Generation."

Edwin's upbringing was a time of work on the farm and work in school. He attended school at the Lorin School District and continued with his education at the New Leipzig Public School, where he graduated in 1942. After graduation, Edwin continued farming with his parents.

At a dance one evening in Burt, North Dakota, Edwin met Lois Mae Schulz, the woman who would become his wife. She was raised north of Elgin. They were married on June 18, 1950 and after becoming married, took over the Hochhalter family farm. In 1960, Edwin and Lois purchased it as their own. It was on that farm they raised 5 children: Gene, Glen, Garland, Marsha, and Marlys.

Eddie (as Lois liked to call him!) and Lois were upstanding citizens of New Leipzig and served this rural North Dakota community in many ways: Edwin served on the New Leipzig Board of Education; the Grant County Crop Improvement Association as a Trustee; the fire district as a director; and on the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (A.S.C.S.) Committee as an elected member. In 1971, Edwin and Lois received the Grant County Soil Conservation Award and a wildlife award. They were regular volunteers and participants in the town's annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Faith was an important part of Edwin's life and regular service attendance was important to him.  He was a member of Christus Congregational United Church of Christ in New Leipzig and served the church as treasurer and deacon of the church board.

Edwin's grandchildren have – in their mind's eye – many vivid and happy memories of time spent with Grandpa on the farm: the gravel path between the tree rows that led to the yard; the windmill near the white barn; the smell of earth and soil when you walked into the house; his waking up early in the mornings and the sound of "Country Morning" on the television; the way he liked a piece of summer sausage for breakfast, iced tea (the sweetened kind!) at lunch, and his love of watermelon anytime of the day; the clean coveralls he wore at the end of a day; a trip to Elgin to have dinner and ice cream at the Triple H Drive Inn; the tick-tock of the old clock hanging in the hall near the kitchen; the gait in his walk; before meal prayer around the table; his eagerness in the evenings to "take a ride and look at the cows"; his desire to always give a hug and a kiss; his ability to sit down and visit with anyone around and also to listen to those around him; and his ever-present gentle smile. Edwin was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and he was a man of faith in God. How grateful we all are to have shared in the gift of his life: I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy (Philippians 1:3-4). May God grant this son of His, Edwin Hochhalter, eternal rest and reward.

Edwin is survived by his wife Lois, Glen Ullin, ND; two sons: Glen (Renée) Hochhalter, Dickinson, ND; and Garland (Cathy) Hochhalter, New Leipzig, ND; two daughters: Marsha Ridl, Bowman, ND; and Marlys Wanner, Mandan, ND; one sister: Delores Kuntz, Glen Ullin, ND; nine grandchildren: Kelli (Scott) Schneider, Kenton (Erin) Hochhalter, Fr. Kregg Hochhalter, Daniel Hochhalter, Nicole (Jonas) VanEnk, Brad Ridl, Amanda Ridl, Brett Wanner, Britton Wanner; and ten great-grandchildren Katherine, Elizabeth, Joseph and Clare Schneider; Kellen, Easton and Kyler Hochhalter; Kailey, Jaxon and Casen VanEnk.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jacob F. and Mary (Klein) Hochhalter; one son, Gene Hochhalter; two sons-in-law: Alvin Ridl and Gary Wanner; 3 brothers and sisters-in-law: Rueben (and Edna), Harry (and Grace), and Wilbur (and Delores); two sisters and brothers-in-law: Gertrude (Merwin Brace); and Esther Hochhalter; and Mike Kuntz.

In lieu of flowers a memorial will be established by the family.