Paul Rau
Oct. 5, 1931-August 11, 2017
Paul Rau, 85, rural
Makoti, ND, passed away
Friday, August 11, 2017,
at his home.
Paul Adolph Rau was
born October 5, 1931, to
Adolph and Edna (Inches)
Rau, on the family farm
which is located in Moun-
trail Township of Moun-
trail County, rural Makoti.
He attended Mountrail
School and Foley High
School. In 1948, he re-
turned to the farm where
he was born. He farmed
and worked as a mechanic
for Orville Reum in Plaza.
On June 3, 1954, he
married Doreen J. Engan
in Minot. Paul and Dorry
farmed and operated
Paul’s Excavating. They
had two children, Dixon
and Penney. Dixon passed
away as a result of a
motorcycle accident in
1978. His daughter, Pen-
ney and her husband,
Bryan Wurtz farmed and
worked in the excavating
business with Paul.
As a young man, Paul
enjoyed fishing, playing
pool and riding motorcy-
cle. He also enjoyed roller
skating with Dorry. Paul
served in the U.S. Army
from 1954-1956. In 1958,
he attained a private pilot
license. He restored a
small plane and flew as a
hobby.
Paul enjoyed work. He
dug many basements,
sewer and water lines,
and graves. Paul donated
work to the Makoti
Seniors Center, Makoti
Caf, Hope Lutheran
Church and Cemetery,
and many others. He also
did the digging for the
Makoti swimming pool. If
people had difficulty on
the roads and walked to
his place he always
helped them on their jour-
ney. Paul had two
grandchildren, Kate and
Luke, who he thought
were very special.
Paul is survived by his
wife of 63 years, Doreen;
daughter, Penney (Bryan)
Wurtz, rural Plaza, ND;
sisters, Ruth Anderson,
Fort Meyers, FL, Margaret
Freese, Oak Park, MN,
Delores Rau, Houston,
TX; grandchildren, Kate
(Dan) Ihle, Detroit Lakes,
MN, and Luke (Shelby)
Wurtz, Plaza, ND.
Paul was preceded in
death by his parents; son,
Dixon Rau; and brothers,
Rudolph and Edward Rau.
At Paul’s request, there
will be no Funeral ser-
vice. Paul will be buried
in Hope Lutheran
Cemetery, Makoti, ND.
Memorials are preferred
to Plaza Ambulance,
Ryder-Makoti EMS or the
Makoti Swimming Pool.
Those wishing to sign
the online register and
share memories may ac-
cess the online obituaries
section at (www.
thompsonlarson.com).