Ervin Koehler

Ervin C. Koehler, 86, Fargo, ND, formerly Great Bend, ND passed away on Monday, June 15, 2015 at Rosewood on Broadway, Fargo. Funeral services will be on Thursday, June 18, at 10:30 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Bend, with Rev. Sean Daenzer officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5 PM to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Bend. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Eagle Bend, MN. Memorials are preferred to the Great Bend Park Board or the Great Bend Fire Department. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Ervin was born on June 24, 1928 to Karl and Erna (Valentin)Koehler in Sleepy Eye, MN. He grew up and attended school in Vesta, MN and after his schooling he began working on the family farm. On January 23, 1951 he entered the US Army and served under Woody Keeble during the Korean Conflict. He was shot in combat and received the Purple Heart and was medically discharged on October 22, 1952. He returned back to the family farm after his discharge.

He met Lorraine Zahl at a dance in Willmar, MN and they got married on October 26, 1957 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Morris, MN. They lived and farmed in the Morris, Deer Creek, and Eagle Bend, MN areas. Lorraine passed away suddenly on June 28, 1973 which was a terrible shock to the entire family. Ervin then started working for Yaggie farms near Breckenridge, MN. To gain more regular hours for his family he started working for Wil-Rich in Wahpeton, ND. He finished his working career with Minn-Dak Farmers Coop in Wahpeton until retiring in the late 1980's. Erv was the Great Bend Girls Softball coach for many years and one phrase that he was known to say was "hubba, hubba" which meant get in and out of the field as fast as you can.

Erv enjoyed going to the lake and fishing, camping, and watching ballgames at the Great Bend ballpark with his companion of 38 years, Erma Hentges. He also enjoyed hunting with his son and being with his family and watching his grandchildren's events. Erv became a resident of Rosewood on Broadway in Fargo in the fall of 2010.

Erv is survived by his children, Peggy (Tim) Fliehs, Stratford, SD, Pam (Brian) Brotherton, Byron, MN, Judy (Roger) Braun, Challis, ID, Elizabeth (Randy) Thiele, Great Bend, ND, Anita (Jerry) Becker, Glenwood, MN, Lois (Greg) Krautbauer, Hankinson, ND, Mary Koehler, Fargo, ND, Sam (Christy) Koehler, Hankinson, ND; his 18 grandchildren; his 13 great grandchildren; his brother, Alfred (Deloris) Koehler, Morris, MN; his brother-in-law, Maynard Koehntop, Morris, MN; and the special family of Erma Hentges.

He was preceded by his parents, Karl and Erna Koehler, his wife, Lorraine Koehler, his twin sons in infancy, Tony and Thomas, his sister, Bertha Koehntop, and his loving companion, Erma Hentges on April 25, 2012.