Weyburn Niewoehner
Apr. 26, 1933 – Jan. 13, 2023
Upham
Henry Weyburn Niewoehner VI, died in Minot, North Dakota on January 13, 2023. He was born on April 26, 1933 near Upham, North Dakota to Henry A. and Alma H. (Erdman) Niewoehner. He attended rural school and graduated from Upham High School in 1951. Later he attended Minot State Teachers College and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science – Chicago in 1957. Weyburn attained funeral licenses in Illinois and later in North Dakota while working in funeral homes in Illinois and later in Grand Forks and Minot. At the time of his death, he held the oldest active license in North Dakota, number 815. On July 6, 1957, he married Mae Carol Parker in Minot. In the fall of 1960, they purchased the Foley Funeral Home in Rolla and operated it, along with ambulance service for several years, until they retired in 2002. They served their community for 43 years – the rich and the poor in the sadness of their lives. During his time in Rolla, he was involved in the Rolla Fire Department and was a charter member and officer of the Rolla Kiwanis Club. During this period of his life, he played clarinet in the Minot Elks Band and began a nationally recognized collection of breweriana, collected Packard automobiles, railroad artifacts, and began a library of history of World War II and automotive history. It was also during this time that he earned his private pilot’s license. Weyburn sang in the MSU Messiah performance for many years.
In 2007 he and Mae moved to the Niewoehner farm west of Upham. At this time, he became active in the Golden K Kiwanis Club – Minot, where he served as President and as Region 1 Lieutenant Governor. In 2017 he was awarded the highest honor of the Kiwanis International – the George F. Hixson Fellowship. During this time, he became heavily involved in the Railroad Museum of Minot and dedicated countless hours working at the museum and operating the miniature train at Roosevelt Park. In 2019 he was inducted into the Railroad Museum of Minot Hall of Fame. Weyburn also served on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame for many years. He spearheaded a campaign that led to the completion of paving of McHenry County Road # 16. Mr. Niewoehner assisted with several all-school reunions for the Upham School in addition to establishing the Upham School Museum in the old post office building in Upham. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Upham, where he was baptized and confirmed.
Weyburn enjoyed gardening, making home-made beer, a fine cigar, and a good book.
He is survived by his children H. Mark VII – Chicago, Illinois and Heather L. – Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. He also leaves grandchildren – Dr. Angelina Franklin, Greg (Briana) Marcil and Blair Niewoehner and a great grandson, Sullivan, in addition to a brother, Dale G. Niewoehner and his wife Marilyn – Rugby.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mae on December 9, 2018 and his parents.
Funeral services were held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church – rural Upham, North Dakota on Friday, January 20, 2023 with burial in the church cemetery. Niewoehner Funeral Home – Rugby – www.niewoehnerfh.com
Published by The Pierce County Tribune, January 21, 2023.