Curtis A. Ehnert

Curtis A. Ehnert, 77 of Devils Lake formerly of Maddock ND passed away on Tuesday evening, November 29, 2022 at his home in the loving care of family and Hospice of the Red River Valley. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake ND from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be on Friday, December 9, 2022 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Lori Pankratz officiating. Burial and Military Honors will be at the Devils Lake Cemetery. 

Curtis Allen Ehnert, son of Charles and Wilma (Lalum) Ehnert was born on August 6, 1945 in Maddock, ND. He grew up in Maddock and attended elementary school at the Albert Country School. He graduated from the Benson County Agricultural and Training School in Maddock in 1963. Upon graduation, he went to Wahpeton to study electrical at NDSSS but after a year there he decided to continue his education at Lake Region Junior College.

After college, Curtis worked at Montgomery Wards and entered the North Dakota Army National Guard at Camp Grafton.

Curtis married his high school sweetheart Linda Mae Ellefson on August 28, 1966 at North Viking Lutheran Church in Maddock. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their family. For over 25 years, Curtis was the driver of the Eddy’s Bread Truck (which later became the Sweetheart Bread Truck) in the Lake Region.  For 8 years, Curtis and Linda were the live-in- caretakers of the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department.

In the early 1990’s Curtis was diagnosed with MS. He wanted to keep active as long as possible, so he worked part-time at Sears, John Deere and Wal-Mart.

   From a very young age, Curtis had a passion for hunting, fishing, trapping, and the serenity of being out in nature.  Over the years, he invested many hours perfecting his passion for fishing and deer hunting.  He won many awards at fishing tournaments, was recognized on more than one occasion for landing the "big one", and in 1977 he brought down the 2nd largest ND non-typical whitetail deer with a bow.  Clearly skilled in his hobby, he was also happy to learn more but also willing to teach anyone who also showed interest.  

His other interest outdoors was gardening...he loved to have a big and bountiful garden.  He was meticulous in planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting...keeping it all orderly throughout the season - this was the farmer in him.

Curtis was instrumental in the formation of the Lake Region Anglers and the Lake Region Bowmans Club in 1975. He volunteered his time and talent for every fishing tournament, archery events, hunting, doing whatever he could to make it a success.  He also enjoyed membership in the Elks Lodge.

 Curtis fought the battle of MS with great courage. It was very difficult when his mobility, starting with his left leg, became more challenging to do all the things he had done but he made adjustments being he was a stubborn, yet creative German/Norwegian.

He felt so blessed to have family and friends looking after him, especially after the death of his beloved wife Linda on June 17, 2018.  In January of 2021, a fall in the home further hampered mobility and he was placed into a wheelchair and shortly after relegated to a hospital bed at his home.  His son Chad along with hospice were his main caretakers for the last 2 years of his life.  He had a very kind and loving heart and patiently awaited for the day his Lord would call him home. He will be so missed by the people who spent many hours fishing and hunting with him. He loved his family with all his heart and treasured every moment spent with them.

Curtis’s loving family include his daughter Darcie Ehnert, Devils Lake; sons Chad Ehnert, Devils Lake and Brock (Tara) Ehnert, White Bear Lake, MN; daughter-in-law Alisha Ehnert, Devils Lake; grandchildren Morgan and Breydin Ehnert,  Isabell Danell and Atticus Ehnert; brothers Charles (MaryAnn) Ehnert, Bonney Lake, WA, Jerry (Bernice) Ehnert, Edmond, OK, Glenn Ehnert, Devils Lake and James (Bernie) Ehnert, also of Devils Lake; sisters Janet (Davis) Lysne, Rogers, ND and Judith Ehnert, Devils Lake; many nieces, nephews and their families. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Linda, sister/brother-in-law Joan (Ellefson) and Gordon Waagen, sister-in-law Joyce Ellefson, nieces Lara and Lana Ehnert and in-laws Ingvold and Alma Ellefson.