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Harry Hannig, age 94, of Valley City, ND, died Wednesday, March 19th at the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 24th at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Valley City. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home and one hour before the service at the church on Monday morning. Interment will be in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery in the spring.
Harry Francis Hannig, the son of Paul and Mary (Priebe) Hannig, was born December 14, 1919 on a farm in Alta Township of Barnes County. Times were hard and money was scarce, as a consequence, Harry was unable to advance his education beyond eighth grade. He was on his own by the age of 14 and worked for area farmers with the goal of saving enough money to buy his own farm. On September 24, 1941 he married Lucille Ertelt at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Oriska, ND. Together they decided to work toward their shared goal of land ownership. Lucille moved to Oregon to work in the shipyards and on December 14, 1941 Harry enlisted in the US Army. He was a member of the 14th Division and was trained to drive a tank. After landing in southern France in 1944, he drove his tank through Europe losing more than one tank to enemy fire and losing many more friends. The culmination of the military offensive was to be remembered as the Battle of the Bulge, an experience he rarely spoke of. He was honorably discharged on February 26, 1946. Lucille has said that she never saw anyone so happy to be home. Harry and Lucille achieved their dream of land ownership when they were able to put a down payment on three and a half quarters of land in Cuba Township. With a great deal of hard work they successfully maneuvered through drought, hail, low crop prices and even a tornado to make a full and happy life for themselves and their children. After retirement, they moved to Valley City and enjoyed their individual interests. Harry liked to visit friends and always kept a close eye on the farm his son was now running. Lucille kept an eye on Harry and also enjoyed gardening and knitting. Harry was a life member of the VFW, American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.
Harry is survived by his wife of 72 years Lucille, Valley City, ND; their six children, Lyman (Sally) Hannig, Valley City, ND, Joel (Diane) Hannig, Silver City, NM, Jeffrey (Jean) Hannig, Fargo, ND, Teresa (Jerome) Garrahy, Oriska, ND and Jonathan Hannig, Oriska, ND; 12 Grandchildren, Steven Hannig, Kailee Hannig, Billy Hannig, Danielle (Chris) Jacobson, Chelsey Hannig, Sean Flanagan, Ben Hannig, Elizabeth Hannig, Josh (Anne) Garrahy, Tricia (Justin) Bearinger, Christopher Garrahy and Jonathan (Shawna) Garrahy; 14 great-grandchildren, Aleysia, Lily, Conner, Casper, Jaila, Gabriel, Brooklyn, Bailey, Zoe, Liam, Taylor, Jocelyn, Jillian and Parker; one brother, Gordon Hannig, Valley City, ND; one sister, Grace Fischer, Gaithersburg, MD; one sister-in-law, Marcie Hannig, Valley City, ND.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, brothers James and Paul, one sister, Mable Ertelt, one grandson, Michael Hannig, one granddaughter Nicole Bjerke and one great-grandson Zayne Bjerke.
The family would like to express a Thank You to Hospice of the Red River Valley, the Sheyenne Care Center and Bridgeview Estates for their loving care. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley or the Disabled American Veterans.
Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home of Valley City. Online guestbook available at lerudschuldt.com.