Rudolph E. “Rudy” Lommen, 92 of Devils Lake passed away Monday, August 29, 2011 at ManorCare in Minot, ND with family at his side.
Funeral Services for Rudy will be held on Friday, September 2, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Jeff Nicla will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.
Visitation will be at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.
Serving as Casket Bearers for Rudy will be his grandchildren Christopher Lommen, Nicholas Lommen, Scott Bender, Dyan Melton, Amy Melton, Christa Medinger and Julie Cannon.
Rudolph Eugene Lommen, son of Anton and Anna (Youngman) Lommen was born on September 4, 1918 at Hampden, North Dakota where he was raised and educated and attended Hampden Public School. He then worked at Kelly’s Service Station in Hampden.
Rudy was united in marriage to Gladys Evelyn Harveland on December 4, 1941 in Devils Lake and they established their home there. Rudy entered the United States Army on March 20, 1942 and served his country during World War II with Company D, 88th Infantry Training Battalion on the Aleutian Islands. He was honorably discharged on September 27, 1945 with the rank of TEC 4 and was the recipient of a bronze star medal. After his discharge, Rudy returned to Devils Lake and worked at the Derrick Farmers Elevator for two years. For a number of years, he and Gladys were the owners and operators of Rudy’s Café in Hampden. He then worked for Sweetheart Bakery for 6 years and then the Hampden Elevator. Rudy retired from Armour’s Oil in Devils Lake in 1980 after many years of employment. Gladys passed away on September 3, 1987.
He was a member of the VFW, Devils Lake Elks Lodge, American Legion and AMVETS.
Rudy worked hard to provide for his family but after he retired he enjoyed several hobbies. Remember the saying, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”? Well, that is how Rudy felt about anything old or antique. He specifically collected old clocks, coins, oil lamps, anything old-the older the better. Of course all of this antique hunting led to many friends and many opportunities to visit which was Rudy’s favorite pastime. Rudy will always be remembered as a good man who served his country and was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, brother and dear friend.
Rudy is survived by his children Judy and her husband Bob Bender of Bend, Oregon, Carleen and her husband John Melton of Minot and Bradley Lommen and his wife Jane also of Minot; seven grandchildren Christopher (Chelsie McLaughlin) Lommen, Nicholas (Talita) Lommen, Scott (Doris) Bender, Dyan Melton, Amy Melton, Christa (Craig) Medinger and Julie (Rois) Cannon; seven great grandchildren Eva Lommen, Trek and Zoe Bender, Kendall and Quentin Medinger, Alyssa and Nathaniel Cannon; brother Dennis Lommen and his wife Carol of Devils Lake, sisters Burnette Lindseth of Grand Forks and O’Della Hamre of Cando, ND; several nieces and nephews also survive.
Rudy was preceded in death by his parents; wife Gladys; sisters Inez Ordemann and Myrtle Lokken and brothers Emmet Lommen and Weldon Lommen.
Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.