Oscar Gehring

Oscar Gehring, 96, Bismarck, died May 19, 2010, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday at Legacy United Methodist Church, 924 North 11th Street, Bismarck, with Rev. Kermit Culver officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck.Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm Sunday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.Oscar Emanuel Gehring was born on November 18, 1913, to Rev. Alexander and Caroline Serr Gehring in rural Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada. His family migrated to Montana and later moved to North Dakota where his father was pastor in numerous Evangelical United Brethren churches. Oscar graduated from Streeter High School and in 1938 from State Normal and Industrial College in Ellendale, ND. In June 1941, Oscar married Esther Miller who passed away in November 1943, one month after their daughter Carma was born. In March 1945, he married Loretta Bechtle. They had three daughters, Marion, DeLila, and Sheryl. Loretta passed away in 1966. In July 1970, he married Elenore Overmoen who preceded him in death in April 2008. Oscar’s various occupations included teaching and coaching in high school in Egan, SD, working as a riveter during World War II, owning and managing Oscar’s Red and White Grocery in Bismarck, and drove delivery trucks for Yegen’s Dairy and Cloverdale Meat Company. Oscar worked as a guard at the State Prison and then worked over 30 years before retiring in 1982 from the state laboratory as a lab technician. Every aspect of Oscar’s life reflected his strong faith in God. He served on many committees and was very active in the United Methodist Church all of his life. Oscar thoroughly enjoyed hunting, boating, fishing, bowling and playing checkers; winning many state checker tournaments in North Dakota and other multi-state championships. After retiring, he and Elenore spent 23 winters in Phoenix, AZ, where they enjoyed being active in the Desert Shadows RV resort, participating in many of the park’s activities and being around family and friends. Oscar always looked forward to visiting with his family wherever they gathered. Oscar is survived by his four daughters, Carma Larry Booth, Yuma, AZ, Marion Oliver Cobb, Denman Island, British Columbia, Canada, DeLila Gehring Randall Helton, Lexington, IN, and Sheryl Bill Zoller, Bismarck; his eight grandchildren, Laura Adam Silveira, Christyn Brian Kidder Booth, Ursula Darrell Gustafson, Jennifer Rick Jerabek, Erik Cara Podenski, and Dr. Sara Zoller, Cortney Zoller, and Andrew Zoller; five great-grandchildren, Jacqueline Scow, Amare Silveira, Anthony and Nicole Chavez, and Kaitlyn Gustafson; and one sister-in-law, Ruth Gehring Roose. He was preceded in death by his three wives; his parents; three brothers, Rev. Otto, Arthur, and Rev. Leslie Gehring; and two sisters, Pauline Schmitke and Olga Holland. Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association, 1110 College Drive Suite #1110, Bismarck, ND 58501 or donor's choice.

Oscar Gehring

November 18, 1913 - May 19, 2010