Neil R. Brandenburger

Neil Ray Brandenburger, 63, of New Effington, SD, died Sunday, December 31, 2017, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND.

Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt with Father Gregg Frankman officiating. Music will be provided by organist Lana Sand.

Burial will be in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, rural Rosholt. Active pallbearers will be Neil's brothers and sisters. Honorary pallbearers will be "Big" Jim Dowd and Steven "Bryon" Wilson.

Visitation will be Tuesday one hour prior to the service at St. John's in Rosholt.

Neil Ray Brandenburger was born on August 7, 1954, at St. Francis Hospital in Breckenridge, MN, to Lynn and Valeria (Bernard) Brandenburger. Neil was baptized at St. John's in Rosholt.  He attended and graduated high school in New Effington, SD, in 1972.

Neil had many adventures during his lifetime. He loved the water and fishing the Bering Sea, which allowed him to travel the world for many years doing what brought him so much joy. His second love was welding where for many years he was able to travel all over the United States and was able to even teach his trade to two of his children, who sometimes worked right beside him. Neil loved to share his stories of his travels to anyone that would listen.

Neil also loved to ride his Harley and took pride in his tattoos. He had a big heart and taught everyone a strong work ethic and that family was very important. Neil was diagnosed with cancer in May 2017. He lived his life to the fullest until the end, always thankful for each day that he had.

Neil is survived by his wife, Martha; his children, Hiedi Brandenburger and grandcats Maddie, Dottie and Barley of Henderson, NV, Pam Kriz, Vincent and Lauren of Sisseton, SD, Becky (Mark) Mikkelson, Macy and Riley of Aberdeen, SD, Barry Brandenburger and Aiden of Phoenix, AZ, and Deidre Wolf and Quinton of Charlotte, NC. His siblings, Cynthia (Richard) Novotny of Lidgerwood, ND, Tim (Connie) Brandenburger of Quartzite, AZ, Rick (JoLynn) Brandenburger of Great Bend, ND, Constance (Sid) Sjoquist of Wahpeton, ND, Dale (Manuella) Brandenburger of Agar, SD, Nathan (Karla) Brandenburger of Birmingham, AL, Lynn, Jr., (Martina) Brandenburger of Mapleton, ND, Matthew (Kasey) Brandenburger of New Effington, SD, and Tom (Janice) Brandenburger of Madison, SD.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents Lynn and Valeria Brandenburger.