Don Baertsch

Donald Frank Baertsch, age 83, of Beach, North Dakota, passed away at his home on Saturday, March 17, 2007, surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Beach. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at the United Community Church in Beach. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, March 22, 2007, at the United Community Church in Beach with Pastor Warren Maxted officiating. Interment will follow in the Beach City Cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Beach is entrusted with arrangements. Donald was born on November 25, 1923, the son of Orin Alfred and Flossie Winifred (Jones) Baertsch in Valley City, North Dakota. He was the middle child of seven children. Donald spent his youth living in Mandan, North Dakota, and graduated from Bismarck High School with the class of 1941. He served with the United States Army-Air Corps during World War II. Donald married Donna Faye Stark at his parents’ home in Mandan on May 29, 1948, and enjoyed nearly 59 years of marriage to his beloved "Dondy". They had six children to whom he passed along his strong work ethic and family values. All of his hard work in life paid off and he took special joy in being able to help his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered for his sharp banking mind, integrity, loyalty, his dedication to his family, along with a love for a good joke. His death leaves a heartache no one can heal; his love leaves a memory no one can steal. He always enjoyed hunting, whether it was the rabbits he shot as a boy, or pheasant, deer, antelope, and mighty elk in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. He had a love of the outdoors and as a young man worked packing mules and supplies for the United States Forest Service in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana. He worked as a bank examiner for the FDIC for many years before taking a position as executive vice-president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Beach, North Dakota, in November 1963. He eventually purchased the bank from the late Tommy Hudson. In 1971, Donald became president of the Independent Community Bankers of North Dakota, and he remained active in this organization for many years. Donald retired in 1986. Upon retirement, he was able to indulge in one of his other passions: fishing. He purchased the boat of his dreams, the Dondy B., and docked it near their cabin at Lake Sakakawea. The boat provided many hours of fun and entertainment for his family and friends with great times fishing, jet skiing, and boating. In 1989, after getting bored with retirement, Donald purchased the First State Bank of Golva and eventually opened branches in Beach and Medora. He continued to stay active in the bank until his passing. His strong sense of community led him to do everything he could to see that the community prospered. In 2000, he received the Distinguished Community Banker Service Award from the Bankers Association. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and the Elks, a director of Home on the Range, and served on the board of Golden Valley County Hospital. Donald was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Orin A. Baertsch, Jr.; a son, Donn "Butch" Baertsch; and a grandson Scott Baertsch. Donald is survived by his loving wife, Donna of Beach, North Dakota; his five children, Steve Baertsch and his wife Connie of Beach, North Dakota, Mike Baertsch and his wife Lisa of Beach, North Dakota, Patricia Giorgio and her husband Herbert, Sr., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dee Ann Baertsch and her husband Wally Owen of Medora, North Dakota, and Sandy Baertsch of Medora, North Dakota; his siblings, Charlotte Latham of Lake Ridge, Virginia, Dorothy Wilkinson and her husband Peck of Boulder, Colorado, Dwight Baertsch and his wife Dodie of Bountiful, Utah, Robert Baertsch and his wife Kathryn of Little Rock, Arkansas and Donna Jensen and her husband John of Fargo, North Dakota; his grandchildren, Jodi Gehman and her husband Greg of Verdi, Nevada, Wade Baertsch of Boise, Idaho, Chad Baertsch of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Herbert Giorgio, Jr., and his wife Jill of St. Louis, Missouri, Matthew Giorgio and his wife Katie of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Dustin Baertsch and his fiancé Emily Heisinger of Rapid City, South Dakota; and his great-grandchildren Kayley Zimmer, Eileen Faye Gehmen, and Thomas Mills Giorgio. The family requests that memorials may be made to Home on the Range, 16351 I-94, Sentinel Butte, North Dakota 58654.

Don Baertsch

November 25, 1923 - March 22, 2007

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Don Baertsch

November 25, 1923 - March 22, 2007

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