Michael Kurtz, Jr
Aug. 5, 1924-Feb. 22, 2022
Michael Kurtz, Jr, 97,
Devils Lake, passed away
on Tuesday, February 22,
2022, with Cyndy and
Brenda by his side, in Far-
go, ND. Funeral Services
will be held in Devils
Lake, ND on March 4,
2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St.
Joseph Catholic Church
Parish Center. Burial with
Military Honors following
the funeral Mass in St.
Joseph’s Catholic
Cemetery.
Visitation will be held
Thursday, March 3, 2022
from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a
rosary and vigil service at
7:00 p.m. The Rosary will
be led by the Knights of
Columbus with a 4th De-
gree Honor Guard.
Mike was born August
5, 1924, the 11th of 12
children born to Michael
Kurtz and Frances
(Schmidt) Kurtz at his
parents farm near Orrin,
ND. He attended the one
room country school near
the farm. He hated going
to school, where he had
difficulty learning in a
language he did not
speak, which led to not
understanding the school
Master. One day he came
home crying, and told his
father that the school
master, had given him a
“lickin”, so his father
promptly gave him anoth-
er. From that point on, he
never told anyone about
any problems at school,
and hid in the chicken
coup whenever he had to
cry. He went to school
through the eighth grade.
After the family lost the
farm during the 1930’s
Depression, Mike finished
his youthful years in the
rural Devils Lake Area,
often working for other
farmers, only getting free
room and board for pay.
During WWII, he was
drafted into the Navy and
served in the Pacific
Theater on the sea plane
tender, USS Hamlin
AV15, as a Seaman 1st
Class. The ship was in
several operations, in-
cluding Saipan, Ulithi,
Guam, Iwo Jima, and
Karama Rhetto, and final-
ly ending the war in Tok-
yo Bay, Japan. His battle
station was on a gun crew
manning a 30-caliber
machine gun, during the
many Kamikaze attacks
on the US Fleet. Being on
a ship full of gasoline,
bombs, mines, and am-
munition, he never
thought he would survive
all the attacks. Although
always religious, the war
instilled in him his need
to pray and have devotion
for his Savior, which he
had for the rest of his life.
After the War Mike re-
turned to Devils Lake and
married Fern Risovi in
1946. He found that jobs
with good pay to support
a growing family, were
hard to find. His
father-in-law, Frank,
taught him the Art of Car-
pentry, at which he ex-
celled. He and Fern start-
ed Michael Kurtz Con-
struction in the 50’s, and
later added Central Ready
Mix, and Lake Lumber.
He built many commer-
cial buildings in Devils
Lake and the surrounding
communities. He also
built, many Catholic
churches mostly in the
Fargo Diocese. Saint
Joseph Church in Willis-
ton, was the biggest, and
most beautiful of all. He
also built the Lutheran
Church in Churches Fer-
ry, and an addition to the
Lutheran Church in De-
vils Lake.
Mike never let the grass
grow under his feet and
was constantly on the
move. This ambition led
him to starting several
other business ventures in
Devils Lake. His favorite
sayings – “It’s all common
sense” and “never pay
interest”. Later in life he
married Doris Blake, and
they spent summers in
Devils Lake, and winters
in Florida. After Doris
passed away, he married
his now estranged wife,
Pat Varney, however they
lived apart for the last five
years.
Mike was a devoted
member and supporter of
St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church in Devils Lake.
He belonged to various
Fraternal and Professional
Organizations, i.e. Elks,
Knights of Columbus, As-
sociated General Contrac-
tors of ND, VFW, Eagles,
American Legion, and
Past President of the ND
Cement Association.
He is survived by his
children, Patricia Fay
Walsh of Sandy, Utah;
Linda Kay Johnson (Bob)
of Bismarck; Michael
Keith (Mary Lou) of Devils
Lake; Cynthia Ann
Stenhjem of Fargo; Brenda
Marie Murray of West Far-
go; 11 grandchildren, 14
great-grandchildren,
sister-in-law Marie
(Frank) Kurtz, many
nieces and nephews, and
his special comfort puppy
Zoey Murray.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, wife
Fern, second wife Doris,
son Douglas, infant grand-
daughter Dawn Johnson,
brothers: John, Anthony,
Frank and two infant
brothers, sisters: Lena
Black, Katherine Black,
Mary Ripplinger, Margaret
Bischoff, Joanne Nelson
and Phyllis Miller.
The family would like
to thank the staff at Even-
tide in Fargo and Valley of
the Red River Hospice for
the care they gave Mike
these past few months.
In lieu of flowers,
memorials in Mike’s name
may be made to the St.
Jude Childrens Research
Hospital, 501 St. Jude
Place, Memphis, TN
38105 or a charity of the
donor’s choice.