Funeral services for Theodore J. "Ted" Brackel, 75, longtime Elgin businessman, will be Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin. Rev. Jerry Lee will officiate and burial with Full Military Honors will follow at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Serving as Casketbearers will be Kent, Barry, Kelsey, Kyle, Derek and Ashley Brackel, Casey and Cole Porter. Honorary Casketbearers are the Elgin Lions Club and all of Ted's family and friends. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 20 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin and one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday morning. A family service will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home on Friday evening.

THEODORE JON "Ted" BRACKEL was born on September 21, 1929 to Henry and Amelia (Gimbel) Brackel in Mott, ND. His love for music started at the age of 13 playing in his brother's dance band, Moonlight Serenaders, until Bob's death in 1972. Ted graduated from Mott High School in 1947. Ted was united in marriage to Dorothy Roth on April 27, 1950. They opened a small Jewelry Store in Elgin, ND in October of 1950. Ted was a member of the 164th Infantry National Guard which was activated in January 1951, at which time they closed the store. After his honorable discharge from the National Guard, they built a new jewelry store in Elgin in 1952.

Ted was a dedicated volunteer fireman for over 28 years and a charter member of the Elgin Lions Club. Ted was a rural mail carrier for 35 years. He was one of the top fast pitch softball pitchers in the state, pitching two consecutive no hitter games. Ted also excelled in bowling, winning five Senior State Bowling Tournaments and went to the National Seniors Bowling Tournament five times. He also loved the sport of golfing.

Ted Brackel passed away at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin, ND on May 16, 2005 at the age of 75 years, 8 months and 5 days.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Dorothy; four children, Rhonda Brackel, Bismarck, ND, Jeanette (Grady) Porter, Omaha, NE, Kent (Kathleen) Brackel, Hettinger, ND and Barry Brackel, Elgin, ND; eight grandchildren, Casey (Jennifer) Porter and Cole (Lyndsey) Porter, all of Omaha, NE, Janell and (Byron) Grenier, Nikiski, AK, Kelsey Brackel and Kyle Brackel, Hettinger, ND, Shasta Alberts, Bismarck, ND and Derek Brackel and Ashley Brackel, Elgin, ND; three great grandsons, Jaden, Landen and Kamron Porter, all of Omaha; brothers, Lynn (Judy) Brackel, Bowman, ND, Darrell Brackel, Dickinson, ND and Leo (Janelle) Brackel, Mott, ND; sister-in-law, Fran Brackel, Dickinson, ND; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kenneth (Viola) Roth, Dennis (Veryl) Roth and Jackie (Ken) Seibel, all of Elgin, ND, Kim (Ken) Heidelman, New York, Duane Wahl, Dickinson, ND, Jerry Schriock, Minot, ND and Wayne Dettmann, Iowa and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding Ted is death were his parents, brother Robert Brackel and grandson, Keith Olson.