Constantine Connie Erhardt

Connie Constantine Erhardt, 79, Bismarck, formerly of Underwood, went to meet the Lord on July 18, 2011, in his home, surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Friday, July 22, at Church of St. Bonaventure, 503 Grant Ave, Underwood, with Rev. Frank Schuster officiating. Burial will be at 3:00 pm Friday, July 22, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held starting at 5:00 pm Thursday, July 21, at St. Bonaventure Church, Underwood, where a Knights of Columbus rosary will begin at 6:45 pm and a prayer service at 7:00 pm. Connie was born January 22, 1932, in Oliver County, ND, the son of Kasper C. and LaKraze Messer Erhardt. He attended rural school in Oliver County. Connie was drafted into the Army on May 22, 1952, and served 1 ½ years in Wertheim, Germany, until he was honorably discharged on April 28, 1954. He married Vivian Schmidt on October 1, 1956, in Center. In 1958, they moved to Towner, where he operated a meat processing plant. In 1964, Connie went to work as a heavy equipment operator. In 1979, he moved his family to Underwood and went to work at the Falkirk Mine as a dragline operator. He retired in 1996, after working 17 years at the mine. He and Vivian moved to Bismarck in 2010. Connie was on the volunteer ambulance and fire department staff in Towner for 17 years. He also worked with the Rodeo Association while in Towner and while living in Underwood was active in the church and community. Connie was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW, member of St. Bonaventure Church in Underwood and Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, as well as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid big-game hunter, and looked forward to hunting pheasant at Dave's and deer seasons at Max's. He loved the time spent hunting with his family and friends. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and especially watching his children and grandchildren play sports. Connie is survived by his wife, Vivian, Bismarck; his children, Dale Wanda, Coleharbor, Blaine Toni, Bismarck, Susan Steve Bennis, Apple Valley, CA, Clinton Deb, Underwood, and Candace Larry Oswald, Bismarck; his grandchildren, Sara Jesse, Jason, Cody, Taylor, Chelsea, Haley, Delany, Paige, Emily, Ethan, and Brooklynn; his sisters, Margaret George Wetsch, Mandan, and Lucretia Chris Silbernagel, Bismarck; his brothers, Jack Esther, Goodyear, AZ, Matt Josephine, Center, and Kasper Linda, Devils Lake; his brother-in-law, Wallace Schulte, Almont; and sister-in-law, Shirley Erhardt, Mandan; and two step sisters and two step brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents; two stepmothers; his sisters, Rose, Frances, Othila, and Veronica; his brothers, Mike and Raymond; and his in-laws, George and Rose Schmidt.

Constantine Connie Erhardt

January 22, 1932 - July 18, 2011