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Wendelin L. Lesmeister
• 1929 - 2008 Wendelin was born February 22, 1929 in Selz, ND, the son of Sebastian J. and Barbara (Steffan) Lesmeister. They moved to Wolford, ND, where he was raised and attended school. In 1951, Wendelin entered the United States Army. He was stationed in Korea and served until his honorable discharge in 1953, when he returned to North Dakota. Wendelin did crop dusting for Bart Sogaard and he later worked for W.E. Kelly at Minot Motor Coach driving City Bus in Minot. He also farmed near Granville, ND. On October 13, 1956, he was united in marriage to Patricia Dostert at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Foxholm, ND. From this union two children were born, son Steven and daughter Luann. Wendelin owned a Cessna Centurian airplane and enjoyed flying it, especially on weekends and during the summer months. He started custom harvesting in 1959, traveling from Texas to North Dakota and continued until 1985. In the winter months he drove school bus. In 1972 he formed Northland Bus Service Inc, specializing in school bus contracts and charter tours, which he continued to own and operate until the time of his death. He also formed Northland Bus Sales in 1999 and continued to operate that business at the time of his death. He was a member of the American Bus Association and the Dakota Cruisers Car Club and he restored many classic cars and trucks and a tractor. He attended many annual ABA Conventions around the United States. Wendelin served as Alderman for the City of Surrey for a number of years. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and was a Fourth Degree Knight. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, the Dakota Air Territory Museum and a former member of the ND Street Rod Association. He served as Parking Chairman for the Hostfest. In the summer of 2008 he began driving the train in Roosevelt Park for the Railroad Museum. Wendelin had a love for the highway and was proud to have driven his bus in 49 states, only missing Hawaii. Those who shared in his life, loving wife of 52 years, Patricia, Surrey; children, Steven (Cheryl) Lesmeister, Minot; Luann (Timothy) Klimpel, Minot; three grandchildren, Lindsey (fiancee Brandon Neiss) Klimpel, Andrew and Ryan Lesmeister; sisters, Rose (Joe) Selensky, Rugby, ND, Mary Nush, Minot, Diane Randa, Dickinson; brothers-in-law: Joseph (Patricia) Dostert, Edwin Dostert, Raymond Dostert and Richard Novak; sisters-in-law Anna Schan, Catherine Opland and Irene Dostert; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins survive. Wendelin was preceded in death by his parents, Sebastian and Barbara Lesmeister, mother and father-in-law, Anthony and Rosena Dostert; infant brother, infant sister, brothers-in-law, John Nush, Tony Dostert, Wilbert Price, John J. Schan and Walter Opland; sisters-in-law Frances Price, Bernice Novak, Lucille Dostert, nephew John A. Schan. Funeral: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot. Visitation and vigil prayer service: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 (today) from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. with the vigil prayer service at 7:00 p.m. all at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot. Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND. Celebrants of the Liturgies: Father Bruce Krebs, Father Chris Walter Music Honorary Bearers: Northland Bus Employees Active Bearers: Brandon Neiss, Ryan Lesmeister, Andrew Lesmeister, Ed Nush, Alan Dostert, Joe Price, Stephen Nush, Reed Opland Military honors accorded by members of the North Dakota National Honor Guard Everyone is invited to join the family for lunch and fellowship in the lower level of the church. Those not attending the graveside service may begin the luncheon and the family will join you when they return from the cemetery. The Lesmeister family would like to thank everyone for the
many acts of kindness shown during this difficult time. Your
thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated and will never be
forgotten. |
Wendelin
L. Lesmeister, 79, Surrey, died Sunday, January 11, 2009 in a
Minot hospital