Laurence "Larry" Engelman

Laurence “Larry” S. Engelman, 96, Bismarck, passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at the Baptist Home in Bismarck. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 4, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Larry was born on a farm in Hettinger county near New England, ND, to Frank and Katherine (Herberholz) Engelman. He was raised on the farm and attended country schools to complete the eighth grade. He then went to Havelock, ND High School and graduated from New England, ND High School in 1940. In 1942-43 Laurence took an Electronics’ course at NDAC in Fargo and received his amateur radio license with call letters W0 LOL. Laurence married Margaret Mosbrucker from Center, ND, on June 15, 1944 at St. Martin’s Church in Center. They farmed near New England for one year and then moved to Bismarck in 1945. They had five children, Jerald, Kenneth, Neal, Iris, and Harley. In 1961 they divorced. Laurence worked for several electrical contractors and received his master’s Electrician license in 1949. He was self-employed and worked for other contractors until 1961 when he became ND State Wiring Inspector. He retired in 1987. Laurence married Ruby (Heihn-Weigum) from Mandan on June 15, 1962 in Mandan.

Laurence was a member of the Bismarck Eagle’s Club since 1945 and was active in Bismarck ND Auxiliary Police from 1962-70. Laurence and Ruby also traveled extensively throughout in United States in their RV and were members of the Good Sam Club. Ruby died at 92 years of age on October 28, 2013, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. In the last few years he enjoyed socializing and dancing with his special “dancing partner,” Pauline Berck.

Laurence is survived by his children, Jerald (Linda) Engelman, Detroit Lakes, MN; Neal (Susan) Engelman, Rochester, MN; Iris (Brian) Torvik, Idaho Falls, ID; and Harley (Rebecca) Engelman, Bismarck; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; his five step-children, Barbara Schulz, Bismarck; Marilyn (Delroy) Wohlk, Underwood; and Marguerite Ulmer, Bismarck; step-daughters-in-law, Eileen and Judy Weigum; and 6 step-grandchildren, and 8 step-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and his dancing partner, Pauline Berck.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Ruby; son, Kenneth; grandsons, Duane Laurence and Jerald Lee; step-sons, Larry and Ron Weigum; step-sons-in-law, Ken Ulmer and Floyd Schulz; his parents; sisters, Marie (John) Krebs and Helen (Adam) Schafer; and step-grandchildren, Jeff Weigum and Troy Wohlk.

Memorials may be sent to the charity of the donor’s choosing.