Donald Raatz

      Donald A. Raatz of Bismarck passed away Jan. 5, 2020.  Interment will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 11:00 am at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

      Donald A. Raatz was born on August 12, 1923, in Jamestown, North Dakota, the son of Herman and Alma (Roeske) Raatz.  He received his education in Jamestown and graduated from Senior High School in 1941.  He enrolled at Jamestown College, and enlisted in the United States Navy on November 23, 1942. On July 1st, 1943 he entered active duty at the Navy V-12 College Program at Minot, ND.  and became a Midshipman in July,1944. He was sent to US Navy Midshipman School in Chicago, where he received his Officer Commission in the United States Navy on November 22, 1944.  

      During World War II he was an Engineering Officer and Executive Officer aboard the USS LCI (L) 344 in the Pacific Theatre.  After the war ended, he was released on May 4, 1946 to inactive duty in the US Naval Reserve.    Don received his honorable discharge from the Navy on Oct. 15, 1954

     After World War II, Don returned to Jamestown, ND and was married to Clara Hausauer on July 20, 1946.  They moved to Grand Forks and both continued their education at the University of North Dakota.  Don received his Degree in Civil Engineering in June 1949 and accepted a position as Civil Engineer with the US Bureau of Reclamation at their offices in Bismarck, ND.  He retired as a Supervisory Civil Engineer in August 1978. 

     During Donald's service of more than 30 years with the Federal Government, he served his time in the Navy, and with the Bureau he was involved in Water Resources Development, Electrical Transmission Construction, and other duties mostly involving the Garrison Diversion Project.  Donald's plan after retirement was to travel and spend time with his family and friends.

     Donald was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Cross, a life member of the Bismarck VFW, the American Legion, and the National Rifle Association.   He was also a life member of the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge 1199.

      Donald and Clara were the happy parents of a daughter Barbara and a son David.  They had a great pride in their children.  Donald was associated with the Boy Scouts for many years, as a scout father and as a participant and leader in campouts and other activities.   He was proud to see his son and his three grandsons all receive the Eagle Scout Award.  Donald loved the out-of-doors and shared this love with his two children and four grandchildren.  They all enjoyed camping, boating, fishing and hunting.

       Don and Clara built their home in Bismarck, ND in 1954 and have lived there ever since that time. During their 65 years of married life, they traveled throughout most of the states, including two visits to Alaska and to the Hawaiian Islands.  Donald once said, "he would take Clara to see all the National Parks and National Monuments in the United States".  He did that!

       Don will be greatly missed by his family with whom he had a close relationship, and they all loved him dearly.

       Donald is survived by a son and daughter-in-law David and Linda Raatz, a grandson Michael Raatz and his son Lucian, and a granddaughter Rebecca (Raatz) Peterson and her husband Brett, all of Bismarck, ND; a daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Bradford Holms, a grandson Aaron Holms and his wife Cheyenne and children Hudson, Lauren, and D’Lainey, and  a grandson Nicholas Holms and his wife Kendra and children McKenzie, Benjamin, and Aliyah, all of Burleson, TX.

       He is also survived by one sister-in-law, Esther Hausauer of Minneapolis, MN.  He also leaves many nieces and nephews and their families with whom he enjoyed many hours.

       Donald was preceded in death by his wife Clara, his parents Herman and Alma Raatz and his older brother Darwin who was killed in battle in Belgium during World War II.  He was also preceded in death by three brothers-in-law Albert Hausauer, Wayne Kelly, and Rudolph Hausauer, and two sisters-in-law Edna Kelly and Mary Hausauer, and his wife's parents Rudolph and Katherine Hausauer.