Milton J. Hertz, Mott, died with dignity on Tuesday, May 4, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis.


He was born on January 19, 1935, in Elgin, ND, to Gothold Hertz and Lydia Schurr Hertz. He lived in Fargo for eight years while his father farmed there, then returned to the Hertz homestead north of Mott in 1944. He graduated from Mott High School in 1951, and from Dickinson State University in 1955. Following graduation, Milt taught for two years at Edgeley High School, where he met his wife, Carol Ormiston. They were married in 1957, then moved to Havre Mont., where he taught high school business for two years. He returned in 1959 to begin farming at the homestead.

In 1969, Milt won one of four National Outstanding Young Farmer awards. In the 1970s, in addition to managing a large farming and ranching operation, he served as a member and president of the Mott School Board and as a member and president of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education. In 1978, he received the Alumni Chief Award from Dickinson State University.

In 1983, Milt was appointed to the United States Department of Agriculture by President Ronald Reagan. He rose to the position of Administrator of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, which is now known as the Farm Service Agency.


Milt returned to North Dakota in 1989 to continue farming with his son, Shane. He served as a director and president of the Dickinson State Alumni Association and emeritus director of the Dickinson State University Foundation. In 2003, Milt was recognized as DSU's Alumni Fellow for the Department of Agriculture and Technical Studies. Most recently, Milt served on the Badlands Activities Steering Committee to create the new multi-purpose sport/recreation facility on the Dickinson State campus.

Milt was always eager to incorporate innovative ideas on his farm. He was fascinated by GPS technology and the efficiencies that it created, and he and his son used this and other practices to make their No-Till farm one of the most successful in southwestern North Dakota. He supported his grandchildren in their academic and athletic endeavors, and always tried to teach them the importance of honesty, respect, and hard work.

Milt is survived by his children and their spouses: Sidney and Michael Fiergola of Minneapolis, Shane and Stacey Hertz of Mott, and Heather Hertz and Stan Blickensderfer of Mott; his grandchildren: Charles and Olivia Fiergola of Minneapolis, MacKenzie, Sean, and Morgan Hertz of Mott, and Noah and Cade Milton Blickensderfer of Mott; his brother and his wife, Daniel and Cecile Hertz, Bozeman; his nieces and nephews; and a dear friend, Dianne Morrell, Mott. He was preceded in death by the love of his life: his wife, Carol; his parents; his sister, Marie Thompson; and his brother, William Hertz.

A Celebration of Milt's life will be held on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Mott with Rev. John Amundson, officiating. Visitations will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Mott on Sunday, May 9 and one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday afternoon.