Henry O. Seehafer
Jan. 8, 1918-June 24, 2008Article Photos
Henry O. Seehafer, age 90, of Spearfish, S.D., died June 24, 2008, at Dorsett Regional Nursing Home in Spearfish. His funeral service will be held on Monday, June 30, at Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck, N.D., at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Wes Ardahl officiating. Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 29, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bismarck Funeral Home, Bismarck, with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Henry was born January 8, 1918, in Drake, N.D., to Ferdinand and Marie (Oberhammer) Seehafer. He was raised on the family's farmstead north of Drake where he was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He received his education in Drake; following high school graduation he attended Hanson Auto School in Fargo.
In February of 1942, at the age of 24, he enlisted in the Navy and was accepted into Sonar School. Following completion of sonar training he was assigned to the USS Fidelity and eventually sent to the South Pacific where he participated in many campaigns, including Leyte and Luzon. He received an Honorable Discharge in December 1945 and quickly returned to his beloved farm in North Dakota.
Henry was known to his neighbors as a quiet man who was an expert steward of the land and gentle with his livestock. He was quick to help others and took pride in keeping a tidy yard and clean equipment. He retired from farming in 1983 but his passion for raising crops never left him.
On December 22nd, 1985, he married Erna Pfeifer of Bismarck, whom he had known since childhood and had kept in contact with throughout the years. They enjoyed retirement by spending winters in the Rio Grand Valley of Texas, traveling throughout North America and Europe, and relaxing on several cruises. His time at home was spent with family and friends and working in his garden.
After bypass surgery in 1998, Henry and Erna moved to Spearfish, S.D., to be near family. He bid farewell to many friends and family at Faith Lutheran Church of Bismarck but found a new Christian home in Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spearfish.
Henry will be greatly missed by: His wife Erna; three stepchildren, Merrill (Jane) Pfeifer of Bridger, MT, Videll Pfeifer (Milan Christenson) of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Ardys (John) Couch, of Lewistown, MT; eleven stepgrandchildren and their spouses; 16 stepgreat-grandchildren and his many nieces and nephews, Nolan Seehafer, Lovile Kirschner, Ellie Pennell, Lyle Seehafer, Edith Lindberg, Kenneth Seehafer, Merna Lemer, and Vicky Miller, who will also greatly miss Henry.
Go to (www.bismarck
funeralhome.com) to sign the online guestbook or to share memories with the family.
