John Wegner

A Funeral Service for John Wegner, 87, of Dickinson will be 10:30 am Saturday, January 25, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church in Dickinson with Pastor Lisa Lewton and Pastor Mary Wiggins officiating.

John passed away Thursday, January 16, 2025 at CHI St. Alexius Hospital in Dickinson.

John Ludwig Wegner was born in Reeder, ND on July 18, 1937 to Arthur and Elizabeth (Farber). John grew up on a farm in Cedar Creek Township, Slope County along with his three older sisters. John was baptized and confirmed at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in New England. He attended a country grade school where his oldest sister Elvera was the teacher. He graduated from New England high school in 1955. In high school John played basketball. He went out for track but made to run a mile in practice, never went back. John was in FFA, attending the 1953 national convention in Kansas City with President Eisenhower addressing the gathering.

John attended the State College of Science in Wahpeton before coming home to farm with his father. He soon purchased the Art Kenitzer farmstead ten miles north of Reeder. To that farm he brough his bride who he married on June 14, 1958. John and Mildred Davidson were married at the Hettinger Lutheran Church with Pastor O.C. Rolfson officiating. John’s dad had to go with him to Amidon to get the marriage license since John was not yet 21 years old. The wedding party included Harley and Avis Frantsen, Elton Davidson, Lawrence Stafford, Joyce Anne Espeseth and Marlys Wifall (Corhouse).

Through many seasons John and Mildred farmed and ranched. Mildred stayed home from her teaching job and together they raised their three sons, Steven, Scott and Tim. John believed that a good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan executed later. The wheat might be a little green or wet, but he couldn’t stand to wait. Endless hours were spent on the International WD9 taking a month to seed what decades later took two or three days. John related the story of seeding when he was around twelve years old. As he went around the field he came across the drill which had unhooked the round before. His dad was mad and asked him in German how he could go an entire round without realizing he had lost the drill.

John and Mildred were members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Reeder where he served on various boards. He also served on the Reeder school board, Whetstone Township board, and the West River Health Services Foundation board in Hettinger. In 1977 John was recognized with the Agriculturalist Achievement Award at NDSU and in 1995 the Adams County Soil Conservation Award. John’s childhood dream was to be a pilot. His dream became a reality and he enjoyed several years of flying to look over the grain fields and check on the cattle in his Piper Cherokee Warrior. After over forty years on the farm John and Mildred built their retirement home in Dickinson moving the end of 1999. In Dickinson they were members of St. John Lutheran Church. John made many trips to the farm to help especially during harvest. After finally retiring John still drove out to the farm to work on restoring his 1948 Oliver tractor, which he had driven home new from New England when he was eleven years old.

John is survived by his wife, Mildred, son Steven and his wife Carol, Reeder and their daughter McKenna; son Scott and his wife Tracy, Bismarck and their children Alex, Sarah and Lauren and Dylin Clooten and their daughter Laya; son Tim and his wife Sonita, Dickinson and their daughter Amy and their son Kyle and fiancée McKenzie. John is also survived by sisters Elvera Eidsvoog (Dickinson), Hazel (Bob) Moss (San Antonio, TX) andMargaret Selland (Dickinson), sister-in-law Avis Frantsen (Hazen), and brothers-in-law Donald (Elaine) Davidson, Tucson, AZ and Lester (Cindy) Davidson, Fort Mill, SC as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. John is preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, brothers-in-law Bob Eidsvoog, Dennis Selland, Harley Frantsen and Elton Davidson, and sister-in-law Sue Davidson.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Badlands Ministries or St. John Lutheran Church.