Milbert Stickel, 93, lifelong Pleasant Ridge/Shadehill, Perkins Co. resident passed from this life early Sunday morning, May 22nd at West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.
Funeral services for Milbert will be Wednesday, June 1st at 10 AM at the Prince of Peace Chapel, Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon. Rev. Henry Mohagen will officiate and interment with full Military Honors will be at Black Hills National Cemetery at 3 PM.
Milbert passed away early Sunday morning, May 22nd at West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.
Milbert R. Stickel was born Jan. 13, 1912 in Pleasant Ridge Township, Perkins Co., to homesteaders, Julius and Rose (Schnurle) Stickel. He grew up on the place where he was born and continued to live there until his passing. He attended Pleasant Ridge School and began working with his parents on the place at an early age. He worked hard, using a team of horses in those early days. Milbert always enjoyed horses and considered himself a true cowboy at heart. He was proud of topping the market with his Hereford cattle and particularly enjoyed haying season making large uniform stacks.
Milbert was inducted into the U. S. Army on June 9, 1942 and served with the 29th Infantry Division during the invasion of Normandy. There he felt he put his "tough cowboy" aptitude to work and received the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Normandy Invasion Medal. After his discharge on May 20, 1945, he returned to the home place to resume the ranch life. He enjoyed the visits from neighbors, friends, and hunters at his home. In past years, Milbert was a frequent visitor to the Bison and Lemmon communities, attending their celebrations and rodeos. He was still proud of his cowboy heritage and his '51 Belair Coupe.
Surviving are his sister, Luella Rasmussen; a nephew and his wife, Tommy L. and Luping Rasmussen, all of San Bernadino, CA and numerous special friends
and nieghbors.