Funeral services for Scotty Hirning, age 34 of Mott, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 30 at the Zoar Congregational Church in Mott. Pastor Corey Warner will officiate with burial in the Neuburg Church Cemetery north of Burt, ND.


A family service will be held at 7:30pm on Thursday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Mott.

Special music will be provided by Meridean Sprecher, pianist; Deann Paulson Biel, Nita Bertsch, and Claudia Bentz.

Serving as casketbearers are Emanuel Friesz, Richard Friesz, Daryl Fischer, Ben Kautzman, Dalynn Ottmar, and Merlin Liethold. All friends are considered honorary bearers.

A memorial has been established.

Scotty was born in Elgin, ND on August 12, 1971 to Harold and Bertha Christina (Friesz) Hirning. He grew up on a farm 15 miles north of Burt, and attended school in Mott, graduating in 1990. After graduating from high school, Scotty served as a general laborer doing most of his work helping on the family farm. Gardening and raising poultry were his two favorite pastimes. He also took great joy in being a regular attendee at many southwestern ND musical events such as the Taylor Horsefest, Medora Musical, DSU Jamboree, and many other musical events that featured local talent. Scotty carried a constant smile and zest for life as he enjoyed meeting people throughout his travels to musical events. He often initiated and continued communication with many singers over the years by securing tapes of their performances and playing them throughout the year.

On September 11, 2001, Scotty's life took a turn for the worse, as he was involved in a freak auto mishap on the farm. In the four years that followed, Scotty spent most of his time in hospitals and the Marian Manor Care Center in Glen Ullin. Even though he struggled with his health, he always kept a very positive outlook to the future until the very end. Scotty passed from this life on September 24, 2005 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin at the age of 34 years, 1 month, 8 days.

Survivors include his mother and father Harold and Bertha Hirning, Mott; two brothers, Bernell, Redding, CA, and Morell, Mott; two nieces, Kristi and Brittnee, Omaha, NE; and numerous cousins, uncles, and aunts.

He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, Jacob and Clara Hirning, Mott; and August and Alvina Friesz, Elgin.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 29 from 1:00-7:00 p.m. at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Mott and on Friday one hour prior to the service.