DENNIS D. RAU

Dennis D. Rau, 69 of Devils Lake formerly of Mooreton, ND passed away Saturday, April 9, 2011 at his home in Devils Lake surrounded by his loving family. Funeral Services for Dennis will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Jeff Nicla officiating. Graveside Services will be held at the Streeter Area Lutheran Cemetery, Streeter, ND at a later date. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday beginning at 4:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Time of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Dennis will be Brittany Boeddeker, Brent Boeddeker, Brock Dahlen, Betsy Dahlen, Blaine Rau, Lindsey Birkeland and Cody Birkeland. Honorary Bearers will be Cassidy Rau, Dalton Anderson and Jordan Anderson. Music will be provided by Stacy and Bruce Heggen, vocalists, congregational hymns and Lynda Pearson, organist. Dennis Delber Rau was born on July 24, 1941 in Logan County, rural Napoleon, ND to Edward and Lydia (Mertz) Rau. Dennis completed the first 8 grades of school in a one room school in German Township and went on to graduate from Streeter High School in 1959. After graduation, Dennis started farming with his father and also doing haystack moving until the spring of 1970. After moving to Jamestown, he worked at Haybuster Manufacturing until July of 1974. Dennis then began a career with Wil-Rich Manufacturing in Wahpeton, ND that lasted almost 30 years. Retiring in April of 2004 he moved to Devils Lake from Mooreton, ND where he had resided since 1987, to be near his children. Dennis was united in marriage to Betty Kramlich, June 6, 1965 in Lehr, ND. Three children were born of this union, Patrica, Dean and Kimberly. They later divorced. On July 24, 1978, Dennis married Barbara (Waldahl) Martens. One daughter, Rebecca was born of this union. Barbara died in September of 1995. Dennis enjoyed visiting with anybody and everybody about old cars and tractors, especially if it was of the Allis-Chalmers variety. He also liked jigsaw puzzles and helping out at the Birkeland farm and his long daily walks. Dennis was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; first wife, Betty; his wife, Barb; grandson, Levi Rau and special companion, Sharon Faul. Dennis is survived by his children; daughter Patty (Jeff) Dahlen of Park River, ND; son Dean (Marnie) Rau of Petersburg, ND; daughter Kim (Kevin Birkeland) Rau of Devils Lake and daughter Becky (John Hammick) Rau of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren Brittany (Brent) Boeddeker, Brock Dahlen and Betsy Dahlen all of Fargo; Cassidy Rau of Petersburg and Blaine Rau of Devils Lake; step grandchildren Cody Birkeland and Lindsey Birkeland of Devils lake and Jordan Anderson and Dalton Anderson both of Petersburg; his sister Loretta (Vern) Wieland of Hankinson, ND.