Wayne Gerig
Dec. 28, 1925-Feb. 20, 2022
Wayne Richard Gerig,
96, Rugby, died at the
Heart of America Medical
Center in Rugby on
February 20, 2022. Wayne
was born on December 28
1925 in Brinsmade to
Melvin and Edna
(Herman) Gerig. He grew
up on his parent’s farm in
McClellan Township –
Benson County. Wayne
attended eight grades in a
one-room country school,
attended Brinsmade High
School, and graduated his
senior year from Mon-
terey Union High School
in 1943 in Monterey, Cali-
fornia while living with
his aunt and uncle. Short-
ly thereafter, he enlisted
in the United States Navy,
attending a radio school
in Los Angeles, CA, after
which he served on the
battleship USS Arkansas
and the USS Cetus (a car-
go ship) during World
War II. He was honorably
discharged in 1946. He re-
turned to North Dakota
and attended Jamestown
College for a short time,
but returned to his family
farm at Brinsmade. On
June 25, 1951, he married
Evangeline “Vangie” Irene
Hoffert in Minnewaukan.
Wayne was baptized into
the Catholic Church in
1954 after receiving good,
scholarly instruction from
Fr. Adam Englehardt of
Minnewaukan. Wayne
and Vangie farmed until
1992, raising eight chil-
dren. After retirement,
they moved to Rugby for a
few years, then lived in
Oregon for ten years, then
returned to Rugby in
2010.
Wayne was involved in
many community affairs,
including a county com-
mittee involved in school
reorganization in ND dur-
ing the 50’s and 60’s. He
was a member of the
McClellan Township
Board, Leeds Public
School Board, and County
Representative of the
North Dakota Durum
Growers Assn. Also, the
American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Wayne was a member
of the Benevolent & Pro-
tective Order of Elks
#1216 in Devils Lake and
played trumpet in the De-
vils Lake Elks band for
over 25 years. He took
part in countless area
parades, street concerts,
etc. The band gave con-
certs at the Winnipeg Pan-
Am Games, the Spokane
World’s Fair (Expo ’74),
and the annual National
Elks Conventions. In addi-
tion, he was part of
several musical groups
that entertained for
dances and parties in the
region for a few years.
Some of Wayne’s other in-
terests included extensive
reading, especially on his-
tory; photography– espe-
cially when traveling with
his family to southwest
national parks and histor-
ic sites. He liked to do
carpentry and remodeling
projects in the houses the
family lived in. When
younger, he enjoyed some
hunting and fishing, ski-
ing at Big Sky, Montana,
and also piano tuning as a
hobby. Wayne will be
missed greatly, always
loved, and never forgot-
ten.
Mr. Gerig is survived
by his wife, Vangie –
Rugby, and their children,
Claudia Summers –
Phoenix, Arizona; Wayne
L., Jr. and his wife Can-
dace – Beaverton, Ore-
gon; Diana Gerig – Mesa,
Arizona; Steven – Coeur
d’ Alene, Idaho; Jeffery —
Minnewaukan; Lenore
Gerig – Andover, Min-
nesota; Gregory – Mon-
trose, California; and
Mark – Rugby. He also
leaves 6 grandchildren
and 8 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, 2 children
as infants, a brother, Vir-
gil, and daughter-in-law
Jeni.
Funeral services will be
held at a later date at Lit-
tle Flower Catholic
Church in Rugby.
Wayne will be buried
in Little Flower Cemetery
at that time.
Please monitor www.
niewoehnerfh.com for
current information re-
garding the date of the
funeral service.
Niewoehner Funeral
Home – Rugby 701-
776-6222