Harvey Unruh

Harvey Lee Unruh, 75, Bismarck, died December 29, 2015. Services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, January 4, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. Harvey was born October 24, 1940, near Zap, ND, the son of George and Christina (Flemmer) Unruh. He was in the US Army from 1959 to 1961 and served active duty in Korea. In June 1962 he married Demaris Hafner in Beulah, ND. They lived in Dickinson where they raised two sons, Steven and Michael. Harvey farmed, refereed basketball and football in western North Dakota and surrounding areas, was a member and leader of several business and community organizations (local and statewide). He also sponsored and played on many highly successful recreational sports teams all while being a business owner and manager. Harvey Unruh is regarded by many to be the best athlete to ever come out of Zap High School, though arguments continue on this subject. For well over a decade, Harvey enjoyed working in construction for Northern Improvement Company, at their Dickinson division. Throughout his life he has had a special ability for conversation and connecting closely with the best people around. At Northern he had many friends, as throughout his life. People loved to talk with him and he enjoyed their conversations. He made many true friends. Harvey is survived by his two sons, Steven, Fargo, and Michael (Rose), Cottonwood, AZ; three sisters, Freda Krieger, Bismarck, Helen Koppi, Scottsdale, AZ, and Darlyne (Buford) Rice, Highlands Ranch, CO; and two brothers, Clarence (Jeanne), Laramie, WY, and Terry (Lonnie), Beulah. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Reuben “Chip”; and two sisters, Esther Talcott and Kathryn Lehmann. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.