Anton Bartsch

Minot

Anton (Tony) Bartsch, Minot, ND, passed away April 30, 2025, while in the care of the wonderful staff of CHI Hospital in Garrison, ND, where he spent his final months.

Tony was born on Jan. 13, 1937, to Theodore and Mary (Kuntz) Bartsch in Bergen, ND.

He married Deanna (Jeanie) Leier in 1957 and they settled in Minot, ND where they had five children: Greg, Nancy, Lori, Kelly, and Scott.

Tony’s faith was especially important to him, and he never missed a Sunday mass or holy day of obligation. He was active in the Catholic Church and was a charter member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4894 and a school board member at Bishop Ryan High School.

Tony graduated from Bergen High School in 1954 and later attended Minot Business College.

He went to work for Great Northern Railroad in 1956. While at the railroad, Tony took a part-time job at Kelly’s Bottle Shop, and it changed the course of his life.

He went on to work full-time at the bottle shop, eventually managing and then purchasing the business.

In 1978, Tony was named the Off-Sale Retailer of the Year North Dakota Beverage Dealers Association. Tony sold the bottle shop in 1990 and spent several years after that working at North Star Steel.

Tony was good-natured, hard-working, and always had a smile for everyone. No one was a stranger, or at least it seemed like it because he visited with anyone who crossed his path. If you were going somewhere with him, you needed a little extra time because he undoubtedly struck up a conversation with someone.

Tony was a family man and always enjoyed it when the grandkids and great grandkids stopped by, never failing to head to the pantry to grab some sweets to share. And, of course, adults received a welcome shot of Red-Eye.

Tony loved sports, especially the Minn. Twins and Vikings, and attended many sporting events for his kids and grandkids. Most of all, he loved playing golf with two hole-in-ones to his credit, and he never missed an opportunity to hunt for lost golf balls. In his last few years, when golf wasn’t as easy for him, he still made many trips to the driving range to work on his swing. Tony & Jeanie enjoyed over 20 winters in Ariz.

Tony is survived by his spouse, Jeanie, and children, Greg (Myrna) Bartsch of Lake Metigoshe,, Nancy Fejer of Loveland, CO, Lori (Pat) Finken of Bismarck, and Scott (Nancy) Bartsch of St. Louis Park, MN as well as 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by sisters Loretta (Chuck) Jobin, Bertha (Don) Wald, Evelyn (Matt) Burgard, Barbara Schuette and Diane Wittmayer, brothers Charles Bartsch and Dennis (Mary) Bartsch, sister-in-law Vi Bartsch and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents Theodore and Mary Bartsch, son Kelly, brother Richard Bartsch, brothers-in-law Harvey Wittmayer and Carl Anderson, and sisters-in-law Mildred Bartsch and Linda Bartsch.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Minot, ND.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, with a Vigil service starting at 6 p.m.

Tony’s family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorials in his name be sent to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church or to the Kelly Bartsch Memorial at Bishop Ryan High School.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home website: www.thompsonlarson.com

Published by The Minot Daily News, May 3, 2025.