Leo Fettig

Leo K. Fettig, 77, Bismarck, beloved husband and father entered into the arms of his heavenly father on November 4, 2007. Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday at Church of the Ascension with the Rev. Jerome Kautzman officiating. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 6:30 - 9 PM Tuesday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, where a vigil will be held at 7 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Leo was the second youngest of six children born to Joseph and Magdalena Fettig of Selz, North Dakota. He entered this world, the son of a blacksmith, on January 6, 1930. He was at the tender age of six when he lost his father due to an industrial accident. The struggles of a large family, being raised by a loving mother during the depression in a small railroad town of North Dakota gave him a unique perspective about life. Leo attended Selz Elementary School in Selz, North Dakota. He went on to complete his high school education at Rugby High School. He excelled in both academics and athletics. He was a North Dakota high school all-state basketball selection and he carried this love for athletics throughout his life. After high school he enlisted in the United States Navy. It was an Easter weekend in 1953 that he met Helen M. Egan, his wife to be. He was serving aboard the cruiser U.S.S. Salem, which operated out of the port of Boston to destinations in Europe and the Middle East. On June 26, 1954, five days after he completed his tour of duty, Leo K. Fettig married Helen M. Egan at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in East Weymouth, Massachusetts. They returned to North Dakota to continue their education and never relinquished their residence in the state for the next fifty-two years. The last nine years, they resided at 329 Piccadilly Circle in Bismarck. He continued his education at Minot State University, where he received his BS in math and science. He received a master's degree in public administration from North Dakota State University. For over 25 years he served various communities throughout the state of North Dakota as superintendent of schools. The last years of his professional career he was employed as the Director of Burleigh County Senior Adult Center in Bismarck. Simply put, he lived his life for the betterment of all. His professional accomplishments and membership to service, community and religious organizations are to numerous to mention. He was a person of peace and solitude that respected all things great and small in God's creation. He raised his children to learn from nature, to take pride in their heritage, and to respect the rights of others. His greatest treasures were his children and grand children. He considered them gifts from God, and thus, love was a commodity freely given to them, without conditions or incentives. In the end, he died as he had lived; believing in peace and being reconciled with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Leo is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Les Schoenberg and their son, David; and his son and daughter-in-law, Leo K. Jr. and Betty Fettig, and their two children, Matthew and Megan, all of Bismarck. Leo has one living sister, Bertha Renkar, Mansfield, Ohio. There are many nieces and nephews that are scattered throughout the United States. On January 25, 2007, Leo lost the love of his life, his "Irish Rose" after more than fifty-two years of marriage, his beautiful wife Helen lost her courageous battle with cancer. He truly died of a broken heart. May they dance together in heaven for all eternity. Leo was also preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Magdalena Fettig; two brothers, Lucas and James Jimmy; two sisters, Frances and Rose Marie. He was special to all of us that knew and loved him. We will all miss him. We will miss him at the soccer and hockey games. We will miss him in his perfectly manicured yard as it made the neighborhood a more beautiful place to dwell. Surely we will miss him the most when we need a strong shoulder to lean on and a gentle heart to depend on. His love for all forever remains in our hearts.

Leo Fettig

January 6, 1930 - November 4, 2007