Harley Preabt

Harley R. Preabt, 87, Bismarck, died December 8, 2008. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 am Friday at Church of St. Mary, Bismarck, with Rev. Ed Wehner officiating. Graveside services will be held in the spring. A vigil service will begin at 7:00 pm Thursday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Cremation has taken place. Harley was born April 20, 1921, the son of John and Bertha Schmidt Preabt, south of Mandan, ND. He attended Sunny School and Mandan High School. Harley was a World War II Veteran. He joined the Mandan National Guard in April 1939, and was activated in April 1940. He received artillery training at Ft. Warren, WY, and then went on to Ft. Lewis, WA, the Mojave Desert, then to Muskogee, OK. He served in the 188th Field Artillery, Battery A, 1st Army. He served as a cannoneer on 155mm howitzer, #2 gun. He was in active combat from D-Day through the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded ten medals, including the European Theater Ribbon with five battle stars and Presidential Unit Citation with cluster. Harley married Dorothy Fetch on June 12, 1948, in Mandan, ND. Harley worked for Ack’s Radiator Shop in the 1950s, Interstate Bakeries, and worked 18 years for the North Dakota National Guard Helicopter Base. He retired in 1986. Harley and Dorothy loved camping and traveling. Harley was a life member of the Amvets, a member of the Mandan American Legion, Bismarck Eagles Club, and Church of St. Anne. Harley did not know about “slowing down.” When he had to stop camping and reduce traveling he started helping out at the Senior Center in Bismarck. He looked forward to going to his “job” every morning. Harley is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his two sons, Terry Bernadine, and Monte Shirley; his daughter, Darlyn Jerry Kunz; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; five brothers-in-law, Norman Fetch, Willie Fetch, Vern Fetch, Tom Fetch and Kenneth Fetch; and three sisters-in-law, Garnet Preabt, Bonny Fetch and Judi Mackie-Johnson; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters, Edith Kopa, Fern McFerran, Lottie Taghon, Rosie Taghon, and Edna Gisinger; and one brother, Ernest Preabt.

Harley Preabt

April 20, 1921 - December 8, 2008