Michael "Mike" Schepper

On April 26, 2019 the Lord called away a hard working, good living man – Michael Schepper. The Lord said “Mike, it’s time for you to leave that earthly body that has been shaky lately, come join your wife and meet your infant son.” And Mike decided yes, it is time to leave this earth, be free of pain and shaking and go to the promised land. 

A funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Friday May 3 at St. Anne Church, 1321 Braman Avenue, Bismarck, ND.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 pm Thursday May 2 at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Ave, Bismarck, where a vigil service will be held at 7:00pm.

Mike was born to John and Caroline Schepper on December 12, 1925 growing up in a sod house by Fayette, ND. He worked on the family farm and for others in the community to help his parents. He served his country during World War II fighting the Pacific campaign in the Philippines and on the island of Luzon. He saw the destruction and horror left behind in Nagasaki as his division was dispatched to the city three days after the atomic bomb was dropped. He came back to ND after his discharge, moving to Bismarck in 1946 and meeting the woman he would marry and spend 69 years with, Ruby Anderson.

Mike and Ruby made their home in Bismarck and had seven children. He worked construction for many years, retiring from his superintendent position with Lunn Construction in 1990. His retirement delighted the people of the neighborhood because now he helped any neighbor that needed him with home fix-it or remodel jobs.

While he was a talented carpenter, he was also a man of deep faith and believed in community involvement. He was part of the construction of St. Anne Church and elementary school and belonged to the parish from the start. He was involved with Special Olympics and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks, and United Commercial Travelers, an organization that he and Ruby made many life-long friends through.

A dedicated family man he leaves behind his children: sons, John Schepper, Bismarck; Theodore (Ted) Schepper and his wife Laurie, Redmond, WA, daughters, Patricia Tonder, Traverse City, MI; Colleen Bredahl, Bismarck; Bernadette and her husband Neal Houser, Bismarck. Grandchildren, Ryan and Katie Tonder, Michael Tonder, Stephen Osterlund, Carolyn and Scott Decker, Jenna Osterlund, Sara Tonder, Christopher Bredahl, Benjamin (Ben) and Whitney Schepper, Joseph Bredahl, Jaime Houser and Angela Houser and  great-grandchildren, Isaac, Owen, Christian, Jordan, Andrew, Ellie and Elizabeth Ruby and his brother- in-law and sister-in-law, Donovan and Mary Kay Kitsch, sister-in-law Esther Schepper and many nieces and nephews.

He was met in heaven by his parents; infant son, Richard; eldest daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Mike Osterlund; sons-in-law, Robert Tonder and Jerry Bredahl; siblings, Rose and Jens Olson, Dan and Jean Schepper, Ed Schepper, Frank and Dean Schepper, Lilly and Arnie Hjelmstad and Tony Schepper and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Sally Anderson.

Dad, now it is time for you to take it easy in the air conditioning. Lord, you got yourself a right handy guy. Thank you for allowing us to share his life. Dad, we will love you and miss you forever.