Leander Braun

Leander H. Braun, 88, Rosholt, SD, passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at the Rosholt Care Center in Rosholt.
Funeral mass was Saturday, June 15, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at St John's Catholic Church in Rosholt with Fr. Joseph Hitpas, OMI, officiating. Music was provided by organist Lana Sand.
Burial was Monday, June 17, at 4:30 p.m. in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, rural Rosholt. Military honors were provided by the Milton C. Stevenson American Legion Post 106 of Fairmount, ND. Pallbearers were Bryan Dockter, Kevin Braun, Myron Braun, Bruce Luick, Leslie Schiltz, and Dean Brandenburger.
Visitation was Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Church. Visitation continued Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Leander Hubert Braun was born March 1, 1925, to Joseph and Elnora (Fehringer) Braun in White Rock Township, Roberts County, South Dakota. He attended country school through the 8th grade and then helped on the family farm with the crops and animals. He also worked as a hired hand in the Oakes, ND, and Hillsboro, ND, areas helping with threshing and picking potatoes.
Leander met Betty Rixe at a barn dance in 1948. He was drafted into the US Army in January 1949 and served until January 1950. He was recalled to service again from September 1950 to January 1951 due to the Korean War.
After marrying on June 7, 1950, in Rosholt, Leander and Betty farmed near Rosholt and New Effington, SD, before purchasing their farm south of Fairmount, ND, in September 1957. A new house was built in 1968 and a new barn was built in 1971 as the result of a tornado that destroyed the old one. They farmed and raised their family there before retiring in 1987 and moving to Rosholt in the fall of 1997. They became residents of the Rosholt Care Center in 2011.
Leander served on the boards of the Fairmount Township and the Fairmount Volunteer Fire Department. He was active in and served as the commander of the Milton C. Stevenson American Legion Post 106 in Fairmount. He was a member of the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fairmount and later a member of the St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt.
The Brauns enjoyed traveling together across the United States and even Europe. They were "snowbirds" and spent nearly 20 winters at River Bend Resort in Brownsville, TX. They made many friends from across the US and Canada. Leander was involved in horseshoes, trap shooting, and bowling. In his retirement, the game of golf was a favorite pastime. The son of a carpenter, Leander was quite the craftsman himself and enjoyed making stained glass art, woodworking and wood carvings. Leander played countless games of cards and even though he was hard of hearing, he liked to visit with anyone. He was also there to lend a hand when others were in need.
Leander and Betty raised their children equally and they taught their children to pick rock, pitch hay, make deer sausage, shoot a gopher, to save their money, the satisfaction of a hard day's work and to pray.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Betty (on January 9, 2013); a daughter Mary; twin granddaughters Julie and Jenifer Dockter; his parents; his brothers Ambrose, Mervin, and Jerome; a sister Jeanette; and in-laws Donald Rixe, Charles Gustafson, Art Luick, Beverly Braun, and Bernadine Braun.
Leander is survived by his children Dan (Dean) Braun of Lake Ariel, PA, Becky (Bob) Collier of Breese, IL, Pat (Glen) Dockter of West Fargo, ND, Roger (Judy) Braun of Barney, ND, Dale Braun of Wahpeton, ND, Tim Braun of Hartford, SD, and Ginny (Steve) Merrill of Mitchell, SD; grandchildren JoAnne, Michelle, Chris, Taylor, Bonnie, Bryan, Lisa, Lori and Kevin; numerous great-grandchildren; his siblings Vincent (Marcella) Braun of New Effington, SD, Adela Gustafson of Oakes, ND, Marlene Luick of Fairmount, ND, Gerald Braun of Wahpeton, ND, Albert (Marceil) Braun of Rosholt, SD, and Raymond (Sharon) Braun of Fergus Falls, MN; and sisters-in-law Rita Braun, Rose Braun, Ingrid Braun, and Doris Rixe.