Milton Bachmeier

Anamoose

Milton Ralph Bachmeier passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 28, 2025, at the age of 88, after a battle with multiple myeloma. The man who raised a family on a small piece of land overlooking Anamoose, North Dakota, spent his final years with family in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Born on July 21, 1936, in Rugby, ND, Milton was the youngest of six children to John and Margaret (Geisinger) Bachmeier. He grew up in a time when resilience and resourcefulness were necessities, and he embodied both. Though shaped by the hardships of his era, Milton remained humble, soft-spoken, kind-hearted and devoted to his family.

After a youth spent working hard and perhaps getting into a bit of mischief, Milton served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s, including a deployment in Korea. Following his service, he worked various jobs in Oregon, Montana and North Dakota, learning auto-body skills at Fischer Motors in Minot. In his early 30’s, he began his own business, Milt’s Body Shop, just outside of Anamoose. Needing more security for his young family, he moved on to work at Genuine Parts in Harvey until starting with the Soo-Line Railroad, where he remained a dedicated employee until his retirement from CP Rail in 2001.

Milton married the love of his life, Dorothy Pfeifer, on October 13, 1967. A hunter in his younger years, Milton would say he gave it up once he met Dorothy, because “I got my dear.” As Milton and Dorothy grew their family, they needed more room. Without any background in carpentry and limited resources, Milton tore down a neighboring barn and used the lumber to add on to their home and double it in size. In that home, built over many years as finances allowed, he and Dorothy raised seven children and built a life rooted in faith, love, and simple joys.

A steadfast provider, Milton would go from taking his camper for a week at a time to mow along the rails, to answering railway maintenance calls in the middle of the night during the coldest winters. He balanced his work on the railroad with tending a small subsistence farm at home. His children grew up with milk from goats, eggs from chickens, and a menagerie of pets.  Milt was an innovative handyman, and spent a lot of time in his garage, building, inventing, and fixing. His auto repair skills kept a fleet of pre-1980 Dodge vehicles running for the whole family.

Milton enjoyed sitting courtside at local basketball games, program rolled in hand. He also appreciated visiting with friends and family over coffee. He was a good listener with an easy smile and a remarkable memory for family history and stories from the past. He and Dorothy would sing songs and speak with each other in German, helpful for conversations they didn’t want the kids to understand. Milt also enjoyed watching his beloved Minnesota Vikings and would let his kids know, with a smile, that “you make a better door than a window,” if they were blocking his view.

Milton was a regular altar server as a boy and faithfully attended the Catholic churches in Anamoose and Drake throughout his life. If you sat next to him and listened very closely, you might hear him softly whisper, “My Lord and My God” during the Consecration, signifying a humble faith that was not at all performative, but rooted in his heart.

Milton’s strength was quiet but unwavering, and his love for family was most evident at moments of celebration and parting–graduations, goodbyes, and the laughter of grandchildren.

Milton is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy, and their children: Brenda, Brian, Brad (Sue), Bruce (Susan), Beverly (Jeremy) Sautner, Bernadine, and Barbra. He is also remembered lovingly by his grandchildren: Dayton, Mackenna, Addison, Bergen, Clay, Jason, Alivia, Kyler, Anna, and Phoebe, and great-grandchild, Kazimir. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Hannon of Albany, OR.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret, and siblings John, Bennie, Frances Gilbert and Rose Cecelia Murray.

Services will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Anamoose. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 9th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.  Rosary and Vigil Service will follow. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 10th.  Burial will take place at St. Margaret Mary Cemetery in Drake following the Funeral luncheon.

Arrangements are with the Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home of Drake, ND.

Online condolences may be left at www.nelsonfuneralhomesnd.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, Published May 6, 2025.