Wendelin Rieger • 1916 - 2002

Wendelin Rieger, 85, 1509 10th St. SE, Minot, ND, died Thursday, September 19, 2002 in a Minot Hospital.

He was born on October 20, 1916, to Wendelin and Regina (Hunkele) Rieger in Kandel, Kreis, Odessa, Russia. He was raised on a farm. On September 25, 1939, in Kandel, Kreis, Odessa, Russia, he married Emma Schmalz. He was drafted in the German Army in 1943. In 1945 he was reunited with his wife and children in Germany, where he worked as a vehicle test driver for the United States Air Force. In March of 1952, he and his family immigrated to Linton, ND. In April of that same year he moved to Minot and was employed at Westlie Motor Company for 28 years. He retired in 1981, to enjoy his hobbies, fishing, hunting, and the outdoors with his family and friends.

Mr. Rieger was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, both of Minot.

Survivors: wife, Emma Rieger, Minot; sons, Bernard Rieger and his wife, Elaine, Thousand Oaks, CA, William Rieger and his wife, Vicki, Minot; daughter, Frieda Opitz and her husband, Henry, Spring Hill, Florida; six grandchildren; seven great- grandchildren; brother, Anton, living in Germany; sister, Juliana, living in Germany. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Barbara Rieger, brothers, Michael, Faletin and Pius; sister, Ceata.

Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, September 23, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Minot ND.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary: Sunday, (today) September 22, 2002, at 5 p.m. at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND

Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND

Visitation: Sunday, (today) September 22, 2002, from noon until 5 p.m. at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND.

Memorials are preferred to Bishop Ryan High School and St. Leo's Catholic Church both of Minot.

Celebrants of the Liturgies: Father Chris Walter and Monsignor Joseph Senger

Music:
"Beautiful Savior"
"Ave Maria"
"On Eagles Wings"
"Song of Farewell"
"Nearer My God To Thee"
Marie Hagen Bourquin, vocalist
Nadine Holmly, organist

Honorary Bearers: Thomas Rieger, Michael Bischof and employees of Westlie Motors

Active Bearers: Gary Marto, Chad Halvorson, John Westlie, Rodney Halvorson, Kenny Kramer, Lyle Frost

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