Person Page - 171

     Delores Demke is the daughter of Robert Demke and Lydia Hertz.¹

     Friedrich Demke also went by the name of Fred. He was born on 20 August 1897 at Klöstitz, Bessarabia Governorate.^1,3,4 He was the son of Johannes Demke and Mina Unknown. He married Natalia Buchwitz on 30 March 1919 at Sheridan County, North Dakota.⁵ He died on 21 November 1986 at Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, at age 89.⁶

     Harvey Demke also went by the name of Harry. He was born on 26 February 1927 at Sheridan County, North Dakota.^1,2 He was the son of Friedrich Demke and Natalia Buchwitz.¹ He married Lola Whitt in 1950.² He married Janet Faith Beine on 19 February 1994 at Bismark, Burleigh County, North Dakota.^2,3 He died on 15 August 2014 at Bismark, Burleigh County, North Dakota, at age 87.²

Harvey Demke

Harvey Demke, 87, Bismarck, died Aug. 15, 2014, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Nadine Lehr officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Harvey Demke was born Feb. 26, 1927, on a farm northeast of Goodrich, son of Fred Demke and Natalia (Buchwitz) Demke. In 1932, the family moved to Goodrich, where Harvey was raised and received his education. During his early years, he enjoyed spending weekends and summer vacations working on his cousin’s farm and working at the city creamery.

During Harvey’s senior year of high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sent to Great Lakes Training Center. After basic training, he was assigned to Long Beach, Calif., for his tour of duty in the Pacific Theater, including Pearl Harbor, Marshall Islands, Guam, Leyte, Luzon, Lingayen Gulf and Sasebo Kyushu, Japan. Harvey returned to the states and was ordered to report to the Minneapolis Discharge Center, where he received his active duty discharge. He reenlisted in the inactive Naval Reserve for a term of eight years.

Harvey settled in Harvey, N.D., and worked for Gambles and JC Penney for two years, returned to the farm for one year, and then was employed by Montgomery Ward in Minot, where he managed the shoe department for many years. In 1950, Harvey married Lola Whitt from Velva. They resided in Minot and were blessed with three children, Keith, Curtis and Linda. They were members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot. He enjoyed working with the Cub Scouts, serving as assistant scout master and was secretary-treasurer for three years. In 1973, he received a transfer to the Montgomery Ward store in Bismarck, where he worked until he retired in 1990 after 39 years of service. Shortly after his retirement, Lola, his wife of 39 years, died after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Harvey went to work part-time at the Bismarck Civic Center and joined RSVP, where he became very involved in community service and was recognized as Volunteer of the Week. He especially enjoyed working for the home delivered meals program at the Burleigh County Senior Center. In 1994, he married Janet “Janie” Ackerman at Trinity Lutheran Church of Bismarck. Harvey and Janie enjoyed working together in community service at church, Gateway to Science and the Baptist Home, where they were named Volunteers of the Year in 2007. His hobbies included golf, gardening, woodworking and furniture restoring. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and he was dedicated to attending all of their school functions as often as possible. Harvey was a gentle man who treated everyone with respect. His easy sense of humor was appreciated by all who knew him.

Harvey is survived by his wife, Janet “Janie” Demke; his sons, Keith (Beth) Demke and Curtis Demke and his daughter, Linda (Joe) Dietrich, all of Bismarck; his grandchildren, Sarah (Chris) Fogderud, Brainerd, Minn., Allison Demke, Tacoma, Wash., Derek (Alyssa) Demke, Point Mugu, Calif., Katharine (Nathan) Hults, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Joshua Dietrich, Marcus Dietrich and Olivia Dietrich, all of Bismarck; two great-grandchildren, Layla and Lily Demke; one sister, Violet (Robert) Allison, Manteca, Calif; his stepsons, John (Janice) Ackerman, Reno, Nev., and Robert (Eileen Werlinger) Ackerman, Bismarck; his stepdaughters, Linda (Lee) Vannest, Roswell, N.M., and Vaneta Ackerman Winberg, Fort Morgan, Colo; his step-grandchildren, Kara (Kameron) Knudson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Robert (Sandy) Ackerman, Mandan, Justin (Niki) Vannest, Broken Arrow, Okla., Cody Winberg, Loveland, Colo., Melissa (Ryan) Lance, Colorado Springs, Colo., Malorie Winberg, Lincoln, Neb., and Caitlin, Courtney, Caroline, Christina, Collin and Connor Ackerman, Reno, Nev; his step-great-grandchildren, Jaret, Kaitlyn, Reese and Kellen Knudson, Breanna Ackerman and Noel Vannest; and many special nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Natalia; his wife, Lola; one brother, Herbert Demke; and four sisters, Anita Adams, Alyce Schneider, Leona Zeeb and Alvina Wahl.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to a charity of the donor’s choice.

     Herbert Demke is the son of Friedrich Demke and Natalia Buchwitz.¹

     Johann Demke married Katrina Bohnert.¹

     Johannes Demke was born on 17 December 1850 at Russia Julian Calendar?¹ He was the son of Johann Demke and Katrina Bohnert.¹ He married Mina Unknown circa 1891 at Russia.² As of after 1902, Johannes Demke was known as John to make his name more American sounding.¹ He immigrated before 7 January 1902 to LaMoure, Lamoure County, North Dakota.² He emigrated on 7 January 1902 from Bremen.² He died on 6 January 1934 at Goodrich, Sheridan County, North Dakota, at age 83.¹

     Katharina Demke was born on 25 September 1894 at Klöstitz, Bessarabia Governorate. She was the daughter of Johannes Demke and Mina Unknown.

     Keith Demke is the son of Harvey Demke and Lola Whitt.¹

     Larry Demke is the son of Robert Demke and Lydia Hertz.¹ He married Mary Ann Jacobson on 9 September 1967 at Maxbass, Bottineau County, North Dakota.²

     Leona Demke is the daughter of Friedrich Demke and Natalia Buchwitz.¹