MOHALL - Ervin Oscar Conrad Neubauer, 91, Mohall, died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, at his home.
He was born Oct. 14, 1920, to Reinhold and Jessie (Revo) Neubauer, on the family farm near Sherwood; he was number nine of 12 children. Ervin graduated from the Eden Valley School in rural Sherwood, after he skipped the fifth grade and was able to graduate in 11 years. While growing up on the family farm, he took care of the horses with his brother "Doc" (Richard).
After graduation he moved to Bremerton, Wash., where he worked in the shipyards on a jackhammer crew during World War II. He returned to Mohall and worked for Renville County, and later the Bernsten Ford garage.
He married Anne Pederson July 2, 1945, in Wolf Point, Mont. From this union, they raised eight children. Anne died May 28, 2007. He worked heavy road construction for 40-plus years in North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska, working for William Clairmont, Inc., and Hilling, Coughlin, and Weise Construction. His companies were involved with the construction of the Minot Air Force Base, U.S. Highway 83, and the Mouse River dike system in Minot, Lake Sakakawea development, Interstate 94 through Montana, N.D. Highway 5 and U.S. Highway 83 in North Dakota. Erv once said, "In Bismarck, there is a tube going across the road to the Coal Harbor gasification plant off to the Westit's a big tube that was the last road I built."
He retired in 1982, but continued to be very active in community service. He served on the Mohall City Council for 22 years, from 1988 to 2010. Erv was caretaker of the Mohall Cemetery and retired in 2011 after 20 years. He was the caretaker of the Mohall Landfill for 20 years, from 1992 until the time of his death.
Ervin was an avid gun collector who enjoyed reloading ammunition for himself and many others. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, Mouse River Loop Pheasants, and the Zion Lutheran Church, Mohall. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Among many households he was known as the "fish fairy," as he would give away the filleted fish he had caught. Ervin shared his passion for the outdoors with his kids and grandkids by teaching them about hunting and fishing. His hunting parties bagged geese, ducks, deer, gophers, and netted many fish over the years.
He sacrificed to provide to for his eight children. He loved to tell stories of his work years and always seemed to have a good tale to tell. Ervin had a knack of being able to boost your spirits, even when he didn't know you were having a bad day.
Family: children, Patsy (Don) Rogge, Lyndon Station, Wis., Calvin "Corky" (Kathy) Neubauer, Glenburn, Randy (Arlene) Neubauer, Kenmare, Sherry Neubauer (Dale Randash), Mohall, Vickie (Jon) Weathers, Mohall, Tonie Hanke, Alton, Ill., Dawn (Rob) Larson, Mohall, and Tracy (Alechia) Neubauer, Berthold; 23 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren; brother, Arthur Neubauer, Post Falls, Idaho; sister, Leone Rufenacht, of Kent, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Marian Morris, Tolley, and Doretta Thurston, Bend, Ore., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ervin was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 62 years, Anne; brothers, Albert, Richard and Arnold; sisters, Ella Krause, Nellie Krause, Julia Krause, Martha Lund, Mildred Wherley and Evelyn Johnson; sons-in-law, Larry Hanke and Gregory Cabrel; daughter-in-law, Marlene (Beckedahl) Neubauer; and grandsons, Vincent and Clinton Neubauer.
Funeral: Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, Mohall.
Burial: Mohall Community Cemetery.
Family service: Today, at 7 p.m., at Brose Funeral Home, Mohall.
Visitation: Today, 2 to 7 p.m., at the funeral home.