Gerhardt "Boots" Pankow

Gerhardt “Boots” Pankow, 75, Hankinson, passed away Friday, October 2, 2026, at his home in rural Hankinson.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Belford Lutheran Church in rural Hankinson with Rev. Thomas Clark officiating. Music will be provided by Shala Krump.

Burial will be in the St. John’s Belford Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Keenan Kalhagen, Nathan Ochsner, Jeremy Pankow, Chris Prochnow, Wyatt Tosse, Justin Azure, Dillon Lein and Brandon Staples.

Visitation will begin Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the church and will continue Wednesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Gerhardt John Pankow “Boots” was born July 20, 1951, in Breckenridge, MN, to John and Esther (Ceroll) Pankow. He attended Hankinson Public School and graduated in 1969. He then attended NDSCS for two years completing his degree in electrical. Boots then returned home to continue work on the family farm with his father. He started raising pigs and slowly built his cattle herd.

On October 4, 1980, he married Denise Tischer, and to this union two daughters Mindy Ann and Sheela Faye were born. Boots was employed by Don’s Heating for over 20 years doing electrical work. He was a member of the Hankinson Fire Department for 34 years and took over his father’s spot on the Hankinson Ambulance board until his passing. He was a lifetime member of St. John’s Belford church where he served as a trustee for several years. Boots also enjoyed playing softball for many years.

On December 16, 2006, he married Darlene (Mikesh) Tosse. They continued to farm on the family farm raising Red Angus cattle. Boots enjoyed fishing, hunting, ice fishing, camping, playing cards and dice games, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Surviving Boots is his wife Darlene; mother Esther; daughters Mindy (Justin) Azure and Sheela Pankow; stepdaughters and stepsons Darla (Harlan) Staples, Darin (Kris) Tosse, Jackie (Randy) Lien, Jason (Billie Jo) Tosse, Shane (Kari) Tosse, and Shawn (April) Tosse; grandkids and great-grandkids Brandon (Jill) Leah and Alex Staples; Brad (Alecia) Ace and Ava Staples; Kendall (Adam) Dather; Devin Tosse; Karlee Tosse; Hannah Tosse; Kassandra (Steven) Harper, Preslie, and Colten Steiner; Dillon (Kodie) Lien; Lucas (Macki) and Brinley Lien; Kelsey (Kaleb) and Renley Pitkin; Kaimbree, Mikaelyn and Grant Tosse; and Wyatt, Mariah and Laken Tosse. 

He is also survived by sisters Marlene (Allan) Ochsner and Bertha (Gerald) Kalhagen; nephews Nathan Ochsner and Keenan Kalhagen; and nieces Candra and Leandre Kalhagen.

Preceding him in death was his wife Denise Pankow; father John Pankow; grandson Hunter Tosse; and his nephew Jacob Ochsner.