Oct. 23, 1931-Aug. 13, 2021

John 11:25-26: Jesus

said to her, “I am the

resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me,

though he die, yet shall he

live, and everyone who

lives and believes in me

shall never die. Do you be-

lieve this?”

John Anthony Duchsch-

er passed away peacefully

at the age of 89 on August

13, 2021 in Fargo, North

Dakota. He was born in

Rugby, North Dakota on

October 23, 1931. He was

one of fifteen children

born to Frances and

Charles Duchscher. He

was raised on the family

farm and continued to

farm and ranch on this

farm his entire life.

He attended school un-

til eighth grade and

worked with his father

learning the value of hard

work and farming. Dur-

ing his school years he

won the county medal

contest five years in a row

for singing.

John married the love of

his life, Bernadine Rose

Schaan on November 26,

1951. They raised eight

children and taught them

the value of faith in God,

hard work, and love of

family. Music, singing,

dancing, much laughter

and love were always

present.

He was not only a farm-

er, he was a cattle rancher

too. He loved raising cat-

tle and driving around his

pasture looking at his

cows. He was Pierce

County commissioner

from 1983 to 1992 and an

active member of the

Knights of Columbus. His

Christian faith was a large

part of his life. Beyond

the farm, he brought

much joy to people with

his gift of singing. He

sang at many weddings,

funerals and other events

around the state.

John is survived by: his

loving wife of 69 years,

Bernie; his sister, Anna

Mae (Russ) Bezanson; his

children, Deborah (Ran-

dall) Meduna, Dorothy

(Charles) Vedvick, Rebec-

ca (Ronald) Jordan, Bren-

da (Wilson) Graham,

Colette (Rodney) Heilman,

Lois (Joseph) Clark, John

(Ann) Duchscher, Jr.;

daughter-in-law, Bonnie

Duchscher; 21 grandchil-

dren; 23

great-grandchildren; many

many nieces, nephews;

other relatives and

friends.

John was preceded in

death by: his oldest son,

Carl Duchscher; his

parents and 13 siblings.

When asked if he could

go back in his life and

change something, his

response was, “I wouldn’t

change a thing.”

Mass of Christian burial

was held on Friday, Au-

gust 20 at Little Flower

Catholic Church in Rugby

with burial in the church

cemetery. Father John

Aerts, Celebrant and Fa-

ther Paul Duchschere,

Concelebrant.

Organist: Glenda Mack

Vocal leader/Cantor:

Daughter, Lois Clark

Readers: Children, John

Duchscher Jr., Colette

Heilman and Deborah

Meduna

Gift Bearers: Grand-

daughters, Sarah Slauter,

Colette Roller, Ralynn

Vedvick, Jennifer Stewart,

Cassie Tofteland, Abigail

Newman, Hannah Heil-

man, Josey Clark and Chy-

anne Clark

Casketbearers: Grand-

sons, Casey Meduna,

Cody Meduna, David Ved-

vick, Jason Duchscher,

Shane Duchscher, Nick

Duchscher, Nathan

Duchscher, Jesse Jordan,

Cameron Graham, Travis

Graham, Jared Heilman

and Scott Clark

Arrangements with the

Anderson Funeral Home

of Rugby. Online registry:

www.funeralsbyanderson.com.