Harvey Demke

Harvey Demke, 87, Bismarck, died August 15, 2014, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, August 22, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Nadine Lehr officiating. Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, August 21, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 5:30 pm. Harvey Demke was born February 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, California, 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 8 years. Harvey settled in Harvey, North Dakota, 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, North Dakota. 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, sons Keith Beth Demke and Curtis Demke, and daughter Linda Joe Dietrich, all of Bismarck; grandchildren Sarah Chris Fogderud, Brainerd, MN, Allison Demke, Tacoma, WA, Derek Alyssa Demke, Point Mugu, CA; Katharine Nathan Hults, Sioux Falls, SD; Joshua Dietrich, Marcus Dietrich and Olivia Dietrich, all of Bismarck; two great-grandchildren, Layla and Lily Demke; one sister Violet Robert Allison, Manteca, CA; stepsons John Janice Ackerman, Reno, NV, and Robert Eileen Werlinger Ackerman, Bismarck; stepdaughters Linda Lee Vannest, Roswell, New Mexico, and Vaneta Ackerman Winberg, Fort Morgan, CO; step-grandchildren Kara Kameron Knudson, Cedar Falls, IA; Robert Sandy Ackerman, Mandan, ND; Justin Niki Vannest, Broken Arrow, OK; Cody Winberg, Loveland, CO; Melissa Ryan Lance, Colorado Springs, CO; Malorie Winberg, Lincoln, NE; Caitlin, Courtney , Caroline, Christina, Collin, and Connor Ackerman, Reno, NV; step-great-grandchildren Jaret, Kaitlyn, Reese, and Kellen Knudson; Breanna Ackerman; 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.

Harvey Demke

February 26, 1927 - August 15, 2014