Rueben Schatz, age 93, of Mott, formerly of Regent, ND passed away early Friday morning, August 19, 2011 at West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.


The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00am Monday, August 22, 2011 at the Mott Good Samaritan Society Chapel in Mott. Margaret Bohnhoff will officiate with burial in the Regent Cemetery with full military honors afforded by the Ulmer-Zich American Legion Post #273 of Regent.


Special music will be provided by Bruce Kallis.


Serving as casketbearers are Kevin Lyman, Robert Bohnhoff, Pat Nagel, Eric Nagel, Chris Schatz, and Matthew Schatz. Honorarybearers are Stephen Fromm, Jennifer Powell, Rebecca Oestreich, Danielle Daniel, Melissa Fromm, and Christen Nagel.


Rueben Walter Schatz was born on February 24, 1918 on a farm near Willa, N.D. to Gottlieb and Emma (Hintz) Schatz. He moved to Regent with his parents in 1927 where he completed his elementary and secondary education. Upon graduating from high school, Rueben spent fifteen months working with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Medora, N.D. He entered the U.S. Army on February 20, 1942 and served during World War II. Thirty-two months of his military service was spent overseas in the Pacific Theatre including the Hawaiian Islands, New Guinea, the Phillippines, and Australia. He was honorably discharged on September 27, 1945.


He married Norma Runge on November 25, 1947. They lived in Regent, which became their permanent residence where they raised their family. Rueben held various jobs including working as a bartender, a salesman for the Electrolux Corporation, and for the majority of his working career, Water Superintendent and Chief of Police for the City of Regent until he retired in 1981. He also served as a backup rural mail carrier for over thirty years and was the maintenance and grounds keeper for the American Legion Ulmer Zich Post 273.


Rueben enjoyed being involved in the American Legion in which he served as post adjutant for many years and was an active member for over sixty years. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family playing various card games and his favorite game Yahtzee. He entered the Mott Good Samaritan Society in July, 2001, but always looked forward to those times when he got to come home to be with his family on holidays and special occasions.


He was a member of the Nazarene Church and the Ulmer-Zich American Legion Post in Regent.


Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife of 63 years, Norma, daughters Elaine (Roger) Fromm, Chadron NE, Linda Oestreich, Burnsville, MN, Carol (Kevin) Lyman, Elizabethtown, KY, Sandy (Pat) Nagel, Bismarck, ND, Lori (Robert) Bohnhoff, New England, ND, son Gary (Raeleen) Schatz, Aberdeen, SD, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law Madonna Schatz.


He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Lillian Grovdahl, and two brothers, Alvin and Roland.


A memorial has been established.


Visitation will be held on Sunday evening, from 1:00 to 7:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Mott.