Ivan Rueger

Ivan John Rueger, 97, of Langdon, ND, and formerly of Dresden, ND, passed away on Sunday, September 2, at the Cavalier County Memorial Hospital in Langdon, North Dakota.

Ivan was born May 10, 1915 to John Henry and Augusta Rueger on the Rueger family farm in South Dresden township. He took over the farm homestead operation in 1939. He farmed with his mother until June 23, 1942 when he married Lois Florence Ritchey.

Ivan and Lois had four children: Iva, Lee, Terry, and John. In 1960 they bought a home in Langdon but continued to spend their summers on the farm until 1979. Lois died in 1990 of cancer. Before her death, Ivan and Lois had several enjoyable years of traveling to Texas in the winter. Ivan called them his “Golden Years”.

Ivan was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church attending each Sunday, including the morning of the day he died. He served as Elder and in other positions in the church. For many years he enjoyed discussing the Bible in adult Sunday School Class. Ivan and Lois taught the class for a number of years.

The most important thing in Ivan’s life other than family and his faith was farming. After he retired, he continued to go out and work on the farm with his son, John, until he was 95. Each morning John and he would have a phone conversation about what was going to happen on the farm that day.

Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lois, and all of his siblings and their spouses: Rueben (Rose) Rueger, Alyce (Don) Bacon, Florence (Dr. Fred T.) Renick, Marjorie (Cliff) Smith, and Myrtle Rueger.

Ivan is survived by his daughter, Iva (Warren) Wenzel of Langdon; and sons: Lee (Gloria) Rueger of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Terry (Darlene) Rueger of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and John (Sherry Harshman) Rueger of Wales; seven grandchildren; Chris (Kim) Rueger, Ryan (June) Rueger, Jonathan Rueger, Jason Rueger, Andrew Wenzel, John (Jolene) Wenzel, and Tim Wenzel; twelve great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

VISITATION: Will begin at 5 PM with a 7 PM prayer service at the Brooks Funeral Home of Langdon, ND on Friday, September 7, 2012.

SERVICES: Will be Saturday, September 8, 2012 at the Presbyterian Church, Langdon, ND at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Sue Kana-Mackey presiding.

INTERMENT: Lebanon Cemetery