Jacob Rath

Jacob "Jake" H. Rath, 99, Steele, died on July 22, 2004 in a Steele care center. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Robinson. Burial will be in the Tuttle Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM Sunday at the Eastgate Memorial Chapel, Steele and one hour prior to the service at the church. Jake was born in Libershosca, Russia on October 18, 1904, the son of Magdalena Vollmer and John H. Rath. Jake and his family lived in South Russia, going from there to Germany. They came to America, landing in Canada, and then came to North Dakota, first to homestead in Steele and then to Tuttle where they homesteaded west of Tuttle. They later moved into Tuttle. Jake attended school through the fifth grade at Norway Township School near Tuttle. Jake married Bertha Witt on June 22, 1924 in Tuttle. They lived in Tuttle before moving to Montana in 1925, where they farmed near Jordan for 5 years. When farming conditions became too tough they returned to North Dakota and farmed northwest of Tuttle for 3 years. He worked for the highway for 2 years, before moving his family to Robinson in 1943, where he worked for the Peavey Elevator as a carpenter. He worked for several other elevators and did odd jobs before poor health forced him to retire. He lived in Robinson until moving to the Golden Manor Care Center, in Steele, on December 5, 2000. Jake loved gardening and had a garden every year until he was 94 years old. He helped Bertha with the cooking and canning, and did this himself after Bertha's death. He even had a small garden plot at the nursing home. Jake loved music. He played the organ, mouth-organ, and button accordion for many years. He played at special events, family reunions, and holiday get-togethers. Many of Jake's days were spent fishing and there were few times that he never caught any fish. He also loved to hunt. Although he had many hardships, Jake always had a good sense of humor and many jokes. He had a wonderful memory and many stories to tell. Jake and Bertha were baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and were members of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Robinson. Jake is survived by eight children, Norma Ernest Korber of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Gladys York of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Raymond Doris Rath of Colestrip. Montana, Loretta Peter Hanson of Mandan, North Dakota, Marlys Lyle Leno of Tuttle, North Dakota, Betty Vernon Guthmiller of Carrington, North Dakota, Gloria Lyle Guthmiller of Jamestown, North Dakota, Rodney Linda Rath of Rapid City, South Dakota; thirty-six grandchildren; eighty great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Reinhart Dorothy Rath of Jordan, Montana; two sisters, Erna Schwindt of Jordan, Montana and Lydia Schwindt of Kirkland, Washington; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Bertha, three sons, an infant, Leonard, and Norman, two daughters, Delores Rath and Violet Wetsch, one daughter-in-law, four sons-in-law, an infant granddaughter, an infant great-grandson, an infant great-great-grandson, five brothers, and one sister.

Jacob Rath

October 18, 1904 - July 22, 2004