John Vetter

John Vetter, 92, Bismarck, passed away September 2, 2019, at St. Vincent Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Friday, September 6, at Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave., Bismarck.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, September 5, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a rosary/vigil service will begin at 7:00 pm.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.

John was born on April 4, 1927, to Joseph and Veronica (Wangler) Vetter. He grew up near St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in rural Linton. On May 30, 1950, he married Mary Gross at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Napoleon. The couple farmed with his parents for eight years. In 1958 they purchased a farm, rural Linton, and operated a dairy and small grain farm and also a hay moving business. John was an organist at St. Michael’s Catholic Church rural Linton for many years. He was a bus driver for the Marie School District, president of the Association of Disabled Citizens, was a District Member of the Knights of Columbus for 57 years and a Grand Knight for two years. He had a deep passion and love for horses, music, playing his accordion and singing, and was also the organist to a group of local singers that performed at different events, called The Young German Singers, who recorded an album.

He enjoyed square dancing, was a good storyteller, always looked forward to the annual 4^th of July Vetterville Reunion and going on trail rides with his children and grandchildren. John and Mary moved to Bismarck in 1986 and John retired from the Bismarck Public Schools in 1994, as a maintenance person and school bus driver. He did volunteer work for the Senior Center and delivered meals on wheels to the elderly. In 2015 John and Mary moved to Touchmark. In 2019 they moved to St. Vincent Care Center until John’s passing. John was a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Bismarck for 33 years. His religion was very important to him.

John is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary; and together they were blessed with 15 children, Mary Lou (Clarence) Kuss, Jamestown, Bernie (Martin) Nagel, Bismarck, Frances Page, Bismarck, John (Nancy) Vetter, Fargo, Joe (Berna) Vetter, Bismarck, Myles Deisz, Bismarck, Georgiana (Mark) Holzer, Bismarck, Jolenta Vetter (Bruce Martin), Bismarck, Marlene (Jim) Hoffman, Bismarck, Terry (Terrysa) Vetter, Linton, Josephine (Jesse) Orgaard, Center, Sharon Vetter, Bismarck, Carol (Mike) Meier, Bismarck, Donnie (Tanya) Vetter, North Port, FL, Michelle (Mark) Keller, Bismarck; his 35 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren; nine brothers and sisters, Anna Mary Fettig, Cathine Huber, Christine Sperle, Valentine (Viola), Adam (Agnes), Joe (Mary), Ben (Delphine), Tony (Celia) and Leo (Bernie); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Veronica Deisz; grandchildren, Derick Deisz and Tyler Orgaard; his parents; sister, Elizabeth; two brothers, Wendlin and August; in-laws, Katie Vetter, Frank Fettig, Marcus C. Wald, Clemens Huber, Clemens Gross and Tony Sperle.

Special thank you to St. Vincent’s and Sanford Hospice for the special care you provided to John.