Richard Sauer • 1935 - 2011

Richard Sauer, 75, Carpio, ND, died Thursday, April 28, 2011 in a Bismarck hospital from respiratory failure.

Richard was born November 9, 1935 in Muskego Township, Renville County, rural Carpio, ND to Joseph and Mary (Chapdelaine) Sauer.  He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Carpio High School in 1953.  He attended North Dakota State University in Fargo for a time.

He served with the Army National Guard.  He was called into active duty and served in the United States Army during the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba.  He was honorably discharged and returned to North Dakota.

Richard married Pearl Leitzke on September 30, 1967 at Little Flower Catholic Church in Minot.  Following their marriage they made their home on the Sauer farm, at rural Carpio, where they farmed and ranched their entire lives.

Richard was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Foxholm, and the church’s Holy Name Society.  He was a former church council member and had served as trustee.  In the Fall of 1962, Richard and other members of St. Mary’s started the annual roast beef dinner, which has become a successful annual event. 

He was a well-known meat cutter in the Lake Darling area for many years.  He was a pilot and worked on the ground crew for Sauer Brothers Spraying Service.  He enjoyed taking pictures, he loved to travel and visit cousins, and loved to hunt and fish.  Richard was a Hunter Safety Instructor for many years, was a member of the Souris River Long Beards, and served as chairman for the Carpio School Board. 

Richard had pride in all he did, especially teaching his family and friends to hunt and often guided them on their first hunt.  He loved his children and their families and enjoyed the times spent together at the Sauer Farm. 
  
Those who shared in his life, Wife, Pearl, Carpio; children, Joanne (Greg) Nikitenko and Lynae (Wayne) Aberle, all of Minot, Rodney (Shari) Sauer, Foxholm, Craig (Dee Dee) Sauer, Burlington and Jason (Priscilla) Sauer, Bismarck; 14 grandchildren, sisters and brothers, Marge (Jack) Knoll, Bismarck, ND, Earl (Verna) Sauer, Sheyenne, ND, Wilfred (Margo) Sauer, Fergus Falls, MN, Geraldine (Greg) Stefanich, Cedar Falls, IA, Lyle Sauer, Winona, MN and Cathy (William) Gumeringer, Bismarck; sister-in-law, Marilyn Sauer, Glenburn; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Richard was preceded in death by his son, Steven John Sauer; his parents; brothers, Clarence “Kelly” and Harold Sauer; sisters-in-laws, Jean Sauer and Sandra Sauer.

Funeral: Monday, May 2, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Foxholm, ND.

Visitation and vigil service:  Visitation will be Sunday, May 1, 2011, from noon to 2:30 at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, and from 3:30 to 4:30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Foxholm, with the vigil prayer service at 4:30 at the church.

Burial:  St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Foxholm, ND.

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