Charles Struck

Charles Howard Struck, 97, passed away Friday, January 13, 2023, at St. Gerard's Community of Care in Hankinson, ND.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington with Rev. Karie Geyer officiating. Music will be provided by organist Deb Bredvik.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Eggers Funeral Home Facebook page.

Burial will be in the Garden of Rest Cemetery, New Effington. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt. Visitation will continue Friday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Charles was born on August 17, 1925, to Ortwin and Hazel (Leen) Struck.   He was the eldest of the nine Strucks and he took his big brother duties seriously.

He was baptized and confirmed at Brandvold Lutheran Church and attended rural elementary schools before going to New Effington High School, graduating in 1943.  He worked as a mechanic in New Effington for a time and also worked for his uncle Ellsworth Leen on the farm that would become his home.

Charles married Ardyce Steen on December 3, 1955, at Concordia Lutheran Church . . . and promptly got snowed in at the Steen farm with her parents, his parents and various other relatives.  It was an interesting beginning to a story that lasted 65 years.

Charles was always active in church and community events.  At different times he served on boards for the Victor Elevator, the Roberts County Telephone Association, FmHA and Faith Lutheran Church.

Charlie enjoyed most sports, but baseball was his favorite.  He loved to play: he and his brother Don played on a Victor team coached by their father.   He loved to listen to games: the radio was always on when the Twins were playing, and it was a treat when they were on TV.  A favorite memory of his was the trip with his brothers to watch the Twins at Target Field.  He loved that his grandchildren played baseball:  they gave him hours of entertainment and generated a lot of joy and laughter.

Charles and Ardyce lived on the farm south of Victor until 1996, when they moved to New Effington.  Church activities, the New Effington Museum and, of course, regular trips to Mikey's for coffee and a shake of the dice with the gang kept him busy.  But he always found time to go back to the farm.  He would check in with "What's going on around here?" in the house and then spend the day as Mr. Fixit, patiently working on whatever was broken.  He could also be found behind the wheel of the combine, the truck, the tractor, the mower . . .

His love of gadgets led him to keep up with technology that many of his generation avoided.  He especially loved his digital camera and his computer, where he could collect and organize memories to share.  Email gave him a way to stay in touch with family and friends.

In 2018, Charles and Ardyce moved to Countryside Inn in Rosholt. Ardyce passed away July 4, 2021.  Charles moved from CSI to St. Gerard's Community of Care in Hankinson in 2022.

Charles is survived by his children, JoAnn (Mike) Butts, Watertown, and Kara (David) Hansen, New Effington; his grandchildren: Erika Hanson (Josh Friesen), Kellen Butts, Levi Butts, Katie (Landon) Braun, Bryan Hansen, and Kellie Hansen; four great grandchildren: Sophia Braun, McKayla and McKenzie Hanson, and River Friesen; and three siblings: Ruth Ann Ulstad, Larry (Kathy) Struck, and Ron (Sue) Struck.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Ardyce; his parents; his brothers Wallace, Don and Orlyn; his sisters Marlys, Dorothea, and Shirley; his brothers-in-law Orvin Ulstad, Jim Conway, and Acey Ellingson; and his nephews Bret Struck and Dan Conway.