Ross Craig Ueckert

Ross Craig Ueckert was born on April 3, 1955, and passed away on December 26, 2023. A Friends and Family Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 4, 2024 at Chimney Park in Medora, ND. A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, July 5, 2024 at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, ND. Silha Funeral Home of Beach, ND has been entrusted with the arrangements. Ross was the youngest child born to Ervin and Marilyn “Polly” Ueckert. He spent his early years on the Ueckert family farm, southwest of Sentinel Butte, ND where he fostered a lifelong love of animals. Ross attended Lincoln Elementary School in Beach and during his high school years, he played on the basketball team and participated in music programs; Ross had a beautiful baritone voice and sang a solo at the state music festival in Bismarck, ND. After graduating from Beach High School in 1973, Ross moved across the state of ND to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where he studied theater and went with the theater group on a tour to England. He later transferred to Dickinson State University. In 1976, Ross made the decision to serve his country and joined the United States Army. After graduating from basic training in Fort Hood, TX he was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1980. Ross suffered from chronic cluster headaches the majority of his life. Cluster headaches are very debilitating and difficult for others to understand, so he often suffered in silence. To take his mind off the pain, Ross became interested in intricate woodworking and created and sold beautiful pieces of wood art made with his scroll saw. He was married for a short time to Lois Rhode. In 1989, he married Kim Inklebarger in Beach and from this union two children were born: Kayla in April 1992 and Conner in September 1993 with the family making their home in Beach. The marriage ended in divorce in 2014. In the late summer of 2009, Ross set out on a 1700-mile walking journey from Beach to Washington DC to honor his fellow veterans. With the help of his sister, Myrna, he started his trip and documented his journey along the way. Ross walked until October 2009 and returned home for the winter. He started up his walk the following year and finished his journey in the fall of 2010. He was welcomed in Washington DC by a group of over 1000 people and North Dakota’s US Representative. Ross was invited to speak about his journey at the Lincoln Monument. Ross eventually moved to Colorado where he found land in the mountains. It was Ross’s little piece of heaven on earth and he and Conner worked hard making improvements to the land. It was on this land that Ross finally found the peace he had searched for his entire life. In 2021, Ross was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation and eventually had surgery in January of 2022. A highlight during his fight with cancer was being able to journey to his 50th class reunion in Beach in the summer 2023. He enjoyed seeing so many of his classmates and had fun riding with them on the parade float. Ross passed away on December 26, 2023, in Colorado Springs, CO after a long, difficult journey to regain his health. Ross was never one to hold a grudge and had nothing bad to say about anyone. He was better to the world than the world was to him. Ross is preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Marilyn “Polly” Ueckert, a sister, Myrna Miller, and an infant sister, Sheila Ueckert. Ross is survived by his children, Kayla Ueckert of Nashville, TN and Conner Ueckert of Monte Vista, CO; a brother, Gordon (Cheryl) Ueckert of Sentinel Butte; a sister, Donnie (Don) Erstad of Fargo, ND; nieces, Sheila (Tony) Jenniges, June (Thad) Emerson, Julie (Scott) Glinn, and nephews Shane (Tricia) Erstad, Cody (Ashley) Ueckert. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Ross Craig Ueckert

April 3, 1955 - December 26, 2023

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Ross Craig Ueckert

April 3, 1955 - December 26, 2023

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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