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David Bert Cramer • 1920 - 2003 David Bert Cramer, 83, Minot, formerly of Tioga, died Monday, December 1, 2003, in his home. David was born June 23, 1920, in Austin, MN, the son of Timothy and Nora (Gunderson) Cramer. He moved with his family to St. Paul, MN where he was raised and educated. He attended the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, and also worked for Armour and Company in South St. Paul, MN. On June 21, 1941 he married Elizabeth "Betty" Sofie in Little Canada, MN. Following their marriage they made their home in St. Paul, where he was employed at American Hoist and Derrick as a blacksmith. On August 21, 1941 he entered the United States Marine Corps and served in the South Pacific, during World War II. He served in the 1st Marine Division Company C, transferring in 1943 into the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. During his service he served in four major campaigns, Guadalcanal, Kwajaline, New Guinea, and Tarawa, and was wounded in American Somalia. In 1944 he returned to the United States and taught Navy and Marine pilots jungle survival and hand to hand combat at the Marine Base in El Toro, CA. In 1945 they moved back to St. Paul and David was honorably discharged on October 5, 1945, as a Staff Sergeant. In 1946 they moved to North Dakota where they farmed near Palermo for two years and then leased a farm near Blaisdell for five years. While farming David also worked as a Master Mechanic, working on the building of the New Town Bridge for Mattson Bridge Company. In 1952 they moved to Tioga, where he worked for Halliburton Oil Company, first as a mechanic and then as foreman. Betty died April 24, 1975, in Tioga. David retired from Halliburton in 1976 and moved to Minot. He bought the Magic Mile Welding and Machine Shop, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1982. David continued to live in Minot, and he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was former commander of the American Legion Post in Tioga, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, both in Minot. Survivors: Children, Timothy (Carolyn) Cramer, Blanchard, OK, David (Diane) Cramer, and Gail (Jack) Thompson, all of Coeur d'Alene, ID, Clarence (Pauline) Cramer, Burlington, Rick Cramer and companion, Sherry Edwardson, and Kenneth (Teresa) Cramer, all of Minot; 18 grandchildren, Greg, Brad, Tammy, Andy, Beth, Michelle, Jackie, Chris, Nikki, Carl, Dawn, Sherri, Allen, Bo, Levi, Cory, Cristie and Jeremiah; 29 great-grandchildren; brother, Lou (Marie) Cramer, St. Paul, MN; numerous nieces and nephews survive. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Cramer; his parents, Timothy and Nora Cramer, and his brothers, Vern and Sid Cramer. Funeral: Saturday, December 6, 2003, at 12:00 p.m., at Faith Lutheran Church, Palermo, ND. Visitation: Friday, December 5, 2003, from noon to 7:00 p.m., at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, and Saturday, December 6, 2003, from 10:00 a.m., to service time at Faith Lutheran Church in Palermo. Burial: Faith Lutheran Church Cemetery, Palermo, ND. Officiant: Rev. Mark Narum Music Honorary Bearers: All of David's grandchildren and great-grandchildren Active Bearers: David's grandchildren Burial:Faith Lutheran Cemetery, Palermo, ND Military Honors and Flag Presentation
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