Elmer Agnew

Elmer Agnew, 89, Bismarck, died September 3, 2006, at his home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck with Rev. Nathan Keith officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 PM at Menoken Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 12:00 - 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service where a prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM. Elmer Melvin Agnew was born on April 17, 1917, at Menoken, ND, the son of Melvin Frederick and Emma Carrie Klipstein Agnew. He was raised and educated in Menoken. Elmer married Ella Noria Pokall in Bismarck, ND, on October 30, 1940. After residing two years in Menoken, they moved north of McKenzie until 1947, at which time they moved to a farm/ranch home west of Moffit, ND. In the fall of 1999, they sold the farm and moved to Bismarck. Never a man to let grass grow under his feet, Elmer busied himself with his ranch work and devoted himself to community services. He was Weighmaster for the Cattlemen's Weighing Association and Brand Inspector for 35 years, trucked livestock, and sold livestock equipment and seed corn for 30 years. He was a council member for Bethal Lutheran Church in Moffit, ND, and Driscoll Lutheran Church in Driscoll, ND. Currently, he is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck. Elmer was Burleigh County Commissioner for 12 years, Township Supervisor of 20 years, and 4-H leader for four years. Elmer was a trustee for the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame, a school board member for 18 years, Social Service Board member, Zoning Board member, Agricultural Stabilization Committee Services for six years, and the Farmers Home Administration Board for three years. He was on the Rural Firemen's Board at Sterling, a member of Sterling Lions Club, Bismarck Eagles, Bismarck Elks, and was one of the founders of the End of the Trail Saddle Club. Elmer lived his life with a firmly set, common sense set of values that fully extended into all friendships and business ventures. His sincerity was represented in his firm hand shake that is well-known by all. He not only believed in honesty as a philosophy, he lived it! Elmer loved music, and played by ear the clarinet, piano, drums, bass guitar, alto and tenor saxophone, fiddle, and accordion. He and Ella provided good dance music for numerous occasions. He was a horse buyer who loved roping and riding. He traded four tom cats for his first colt at the age of seven. Elmer broke it himself in 1924 and this began a history of horse trading. He was an avid rodeo cowboy competitor, perfecting the art of roping both in and out of the arena. This kind, gentle, devoted, hard-working man will be deeply missed by his family and many, many good friends. He is survived by his special friend, Lois Seelye; his son and daughter-in-law, Elvin and Wanda Agnew of Bismarck, ND; his daughter and son-in-law, Lonnie and Frank Privratsky of Braddock, ND; five dearly loved grandchildren, Kristen Andrew Vetter of Linton, ND, Dennis Agnew of Moffit, ND, Stephanie Privratsky of Fargo, ND, Nadine Privratsky of Bismarck, ND, and Rebeka Dan Roth of Worden, MT; five great-grandchildren, Tantila and Frankie Sue Sailer, and Hunter, Hannah, and Heather Roth; four nephews; and four nieces. Elmer was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Ella, in 2001; his mother in 1945; his father in 1956; one brother, Lambert Agnew; and four sisters, Orpha Sherman, Helen Malard, Norma Couch, and Lillian "Siss" Foell. Memorials may be sent to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame or Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck.

Elmer Agnew

April 17, 1917 - September 3, 2006