Nicholas L. Broden

Nicholas L. “Nick” Broden, 89 of Devils Lake died early Tuesday morning, September 7, 2010 at the Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake, ND in the loving care of his family and Mercy Hospice. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Mass of Christian Burial for Nick will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake on Friday, September 10, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Dale Kinzler celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Serving as Casket Bearers for Nick will be Ryan Parker, Andrew Broden, Andrew Frelich, Jon Broden, Alex Jorgensen, and Tim Anderson. Nicholas Leonard Broden was born in Lindstrom, Minnesota on June 18, 1921 to Andrew and Elizabeth (Kitsch) Broden. He has three brothers, John, Walt and Leo, and one sister, Monica Engelhart. Nick was educated in Starkweather and graduated from Devils Lake High School. Nick served in the US Army from 1942 to 1945. He was a proud veteran of World War II and served in the South Pacific where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Nick married Mary Axtman on June 24, 1947 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Devils Lake. Together they lived in Devils Lake for 60 years and raised their seven children: Kathy, Sharon, Marion, Dave, Ellen, Mark, and Scott. They have 18 grandchildren. Nick was employed at the Ford Dealership in Devils Lake from 1936 until his retirement in 1986. He was the manager of the Parts Department. He served on the Board of Directors of the Lake Region Credit Union for many years. He was a Lay Minister and Lector at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and a 50 year member of the Knights of Columbus. Nick was a frequent blood donor and a Democratic precinct committeeman. Nick enjoyed bowling, playing horseshoes, and watching Twins baseball games. However, his greatest joy was fishing. He especially enjoyed every opportunity to go walleye fishing during his retirement years. With his calm, quiet manner, his warm smile and his generous spirit, Nick touched the hearts of many neighbors, friends and relatives. He will be deeply missed by his family. Nick was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Mary on July 1, 2007. He is survived by his loving children: Kathy and her husband, Bill Parker of Plymouth, MN, Sharon and her husband Terry Jorgensen of Custer, SD, Marion and her husband Jon Jensen of Devils Lake, Dave Broden and his wife Holly of Andover, MN, Ellen and her husband Dave Steifel of Rochester, MN, Mark Broden and his wife Renae of Grand Forks, and Scott Broden and his wife Lisa of Prior Lake, MN. There are eighteen grandchildren; also surviving are Nick’s brothers, John (Gen) Broden of Devils Lake, Walt (Colleen) Broden of Sauk Rapids, MN, Leo (Bernice) Broden of Devils Lake and his sister Monica (Eddie) Engelhart of Twin Falls, ID;