Walter Auch, age 95 of Mott, passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger.

Funeral Services for Walter will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at the Evangelical Community Church in Mott. Pastor Ed Billock will officiate with burial at Sunnyslope Cemetery, Mott.

Visitation will be on Monday, May 26th from 5 – 8 pm at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Mott, and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

Serving as casketbearers are: Ben Auch, Scott Auch, Jeff Auch, Oscar Klein, Gary Fiedler, and Jim Frieboes. Honorary casketbearers are his granddaughter Tammy (Auch) Fish and his great-grandchildren, Kaden, Kendra, and Emma Auch.

WALTER AUCH was born May 3rd, 1919 to Ben and Susan (Ruff) Auch on the farm in Hettinger County. Walter was the second of ten children born to this union. Walter was raised and educated 1 ½ miles from the farm. He left school early to help his dad farm and raise the rest of the family.

On June 30, 1940 Walter was married to a neighbor girl Selma Fiedler. To this union were born two sons Kenneth in 1941 and Jerry in 1943. Walter and Selma moved to a farm south east of Mott to raise their family. In 1961 they decided it was time to move to town. Walter went to work for John Swindler that year. In 1961 Walter and Selma also started cleaning the Mott Clinic. In 1962 he accepted a job with the ND Highway Department. His many duties included: maintenance, snow removal, road repair or anywhere they wanted him to be. Selma would pack him a lunch every day, which included a banana. After many years, Walter finally asked her not to pack a banana, she asked "Why" and he replied "have you ever eaten a hot banana!" Walter and Selma also took on cleaning the Commercial Bank of Mott. Walter, Selma and family spent much time at Art Fiedler's, Selma's brother, ranch helping put up hay and caring for the horses and cattle. Walter retired from the Highway Department after 23 years of service.

In 1985 he began spending his summers mowing lawns with his grandson Ben. They spent 8 years together mowing 30 lawns and the Sunnyslope Cemetery. After Ben graduated from high school Walter enlisted Penny Auch as full time summer help to mow the cemetery and a select few lawns. Walter retired from the cleaning the clinic and bank after Selma's death in 1992. In 1996 Walter decided it was time to retire from full time summer mowing.

Walter was very active in every church he was part of. In his younger days he was always ready to visit with a missionary or attend a revival or retreat. Walter enjoyed driving. He loved going to Bismarck or Dickinson to watch Jerry race. He would drive anywhere to just check in on his family. Walter enjoyed helping others with almost any type of project and would never say no to someone moving in or out of a house. After retirement from the highway department, he could often be seen at the highway shop telling the guys how it used to be and admiring the large size and modern conveniences of the new plow trucks. He always had a story to share and an ear to listen.


Walter is survived by son Jerry (Sheila) Auch Bismarck, ND; caregiver and daughter in law Penny Auch; grandchildren Tammy Auch-Fish Norwalk, CT, Scott (Liane) Auch Lincoln, ND; Ben (Nadra) Auch, Mott, ND; great grandchildren Kaden, Kendra, and Emma Auch; siblings Willard (Mabel) Auch, Andover, MN; Reuben Auch, Santa Maria, CA; Alice (Fred) Barnick Sherman, TX; Jeff (Joan) Auch, Bismarck, ND.

Walter was preceded in death by an older sister that was still born, his parents Ben and Susan, son Kenny, wife Selma, sister Florence Klein, brothers Alvin, Ray, and Clem and granddaughter Tracy.

A memorial has been established by the family.