Ernest Blaich

Ernest H. Blaich, 94, Bismarck, died January 19, 2004 in a local care center. Services will be held at 1:00 PM Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Steve Sathre officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM Thursday at Eastgate Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church. Ernest Henry Blaich was born November 29, 1909, west of Mandan, ND, in the Sweetbriar area of Morton County, to Frank W. and Tillie Christenson Blaich. He was raised and educated in that area and farmed with his family until 1936, He was involved in road construction until his marriage to Hilma Marie Hendrickson on September 28, 1937. They were married in the Heart River Lutheran Church located west of Mandan on the Heart River. Ernest and Hilma were the only people ever married in that church. How blessed they were with 66 happy years together. They moved to Bismarck, ND and Ernest began employment with International Harvester Co. He worked there until 1945, was a Farm Census Enumerator in North Dakota and Montana for a year, and then began a ten-year employment with Sweetheart Bakery. During that time, Ernest enrolled in an electricians trade course at Bismarck Jr. College. He became a Master Electrician and this led to employment at the State Penitentiary from which he retired in 1976, after 17 years of dedicated work. Ernest was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He served on the Board of Deacons for four years, belonged to the Men of the Church, and because of his electrical expertise, was responsible for the wiring of the new church organ. He enjoyed his membership in the Golden Kiwanis, and loved to take part in folk dancing in the Sons of Norway. Besides dancing, Ernest enjoyed playing dominoes, roller-skating with his granddaughter which he did up to the age of 70!, and traveling. He and Hilma loved their special vacations in Arizona and other states, and their trips to Hawaii and Norway. Ernest was politely named "Mr. Fixer". If anything broke, he could fix it. He felt it is important to get a good education and always did his best in anything he was involved with. He was appreciated for his volunteer work, especially at the Buckstop Junction. Ernest was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his family and many good friends. He is survived by his wife, Hilma of Bismarck; his son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Carol Blaich of Camp Verde and Phoenix, AZ; his two granddaughters, Tavia Andre Tan of Seattle, WA and Tamara Blaich of Los Angeles, CA; his great-grandchild Fiona; his sister-in-law, Helen Blaich of Bismarck; and many family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Edna Blaich and Evelyn Matthiesen, and two brothers, John and Leonard Blaich.

Ernest Blaich

November 29, 1909 - January 19, 2004