Bernhard E. Nuelle

Bernhard (Ben/Bennie) Ewald Nuelle was born to Conrad and Anna (nee Hahn) Nuelle on February 28, 1929, on the Nuelle homestead where his father, Conrad, immigrated from Germany via Iroquois County, IL, and Saint James, MN, before homesteading in Langdon, ND.

Ben was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Dresden. Growing up and working on the farm together with 5 siblings and 2 draft horses name Prince and Colonel, Ben went to school at Elgin #3, a one-room country school house, located on the family homestead, through 8th grade. Thereafter, Ben graduated from Langdon High School in 1946, working his school years at the Green Mill Cafe and summers on the farm. During high school, Ben was active in extracurricular activities and as starting point guard on the basketball team his senior year, making the half-court shot with 7 seconds left to win the County Tournament Semi-Finals for Langdon in 1946. Teammates of Bill Porter, Morris O'Connell, Melvin Everson, and Coach Wally Osman would become life-long friends.

After high school, Ben attended the University of North Dakota, studied accounting and was a pledge to the Kappa Sigma fraternity. In 1951, with the Korean War breaking out and having an older brother, Edward, lost in Leyte during WWII's Battle of the Pacific, Ben enlisted to the United States Air Force (AF). Ben started basic training at Lackland AF base in San Antonio, Texas, followed by transfer to Loring AF Base in Presque Isle, Maine, where he applied and was accepted to Radio School at Keesler AF Base Biloxi, Mississippi, where he received security clearance and trained in Morse Code and Radio Operations.

After graduating from Radio School, Ben earned the rank of Airman First Class and was transferred to Camp Stoneman Army facility in Pittsburg, CA, for ship out. Ben boarded the USS Brewster for a 7-day journey to Eislen Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he spent the remainder of his Air Force career after joining the B29s & B50s Ptarmigan and Loon Delta flights with the 1995th Communications Squadron of the Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS). As radio operator and part of the flight team, Ben flew Fairbanks to Point Barrow to the Arctic Circle and collected weather and other data for the Air Force as well as ran ground radio operations support to pilots and flight teams.

Returning to civilian life in 1955, Ben rejoined farming, took over the family homestead and married Janice (Jan) Bohn on June 30, 1962. Two children followed providing Ben and Jan years of family times, entertainment with school and sports activities as well as a partnership with son David as they farmed together. With the achievement of university education for two children taken care of, the years that followed included farming until he was 80, fun with five much-loved grandchildren, and trips to visit a far-away daughter.

Ben was active and a life-long member of the American Legion where he was installed as Post Commander of Legion Post 98, was part of many honor guards, parades and community support activities such as Legion baseball as well as played fast pitch softball for Fran’s Lounge, bowled and curled. As President of United Lutheran Church and other work on the church council, he noted the work with others on the installation of Pastor John Almlie as the highlight of his years served.

Parting wisdom he left on the most important lessons of life: "Be truthful, pay attention & do well in school, work hard and don't smoke."

His passing on December 9, 2018, at Cavalier County Memorial Hospital leaves his wife Janice (Jan), son David and wife Terra with grandchildren Lucas, Gabrielle & Elizabeth as well as daughter Jennifer with grandchildren Stephany and Markus, all of Grand Forks. He is survived by his sister, Lorraine Crockett, of Polson, MT, and was preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Conrad; his three older brothers: Reinhold (Charlie), Edward (Eddie), and Howard as well as his sister, Clara Bohn; and in-laws William A. (Bill)and Gunda Bohn. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered as Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and Friend.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 17, 2018, at United Lutheran Church in Langdon, ND, with visitation starting one hour prior to service time at the church. Burial will be at Lebanon Cemetery in Langdon.

Visitation will start one hour prior to service time at the church. Burial will be at Lebanon Cemetery in Langdon.