Dennis Leo Wentz

Dennis Leo Wentz, 86 of Devils Lake formerly of Crary, ND passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Heartland Care Center of Devils Lake surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial for Dennis will be held Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in the Devils Lake 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. 

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday, May 28^th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  The Knights of Columbus will lead the Rosary and Reverend Mr. Ken Severinsen, Deacon will lead the Scripture Service that will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday.  Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass.

Dennis was born on October 9, 1931 to John and Veronica (Busch) Wentz in rural Esmond. At about the age of 4-5, his family moved to Berwick where they lived and farmed until he was about 12-13 and relocated to Edmore.  Only one crop was taken off at that farm when a bigger farm in Starkweather beckoned another move in about 1943. 

Dennis remained in Starkweather and helped with the family farm. He met Rosie Mae Nagel there and married her on May 12, 1956.  One week after their wedding, he was drafted into the Army. 

Dennis did his Basic Training in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and his mechanics training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was stationed in Germany for nearly 2 years and had only 94 days left to serve when his father had a heart attack and he needed to come home to help with the farm. 

Dennis and Rosie moved to Doyon and then to the farm where they farmed on shares for the Bill and Bob Frith families until his retirement.

Dennis and Rosie were blessed with 4 children, Arlin, Marlin, Denise and Darrin who they raised together on the farm in the Crary area. They later moved into Devils Lake due to health reasons. 

Next to Rosie, Dennis’s greatest love was farming, but he also found time for his beloved western novels. He was an avid reader for his entire life. 

Dennis and Rosie thrived in the discipline of their Catholic faith and were active in serving their church communities of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Crary and then St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake.

Dennis took great pride in caring for his family, farm, livestock, tools and equipment. These were qualities he and Rosie strove to pass on. 

Dennis was a life-long member of the Eagles, Elks and Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed whist and pinochle games or an evening of playing cards with his new friends and neighbors at Eventide Heartland Assisted Living where he lived after Rosie’s passing and until his death. 

Dennis is survived by his sons Marlin (Vickie) Wentz of Breckenridge, MN and Darrin Wentz of Fargo; daughter Denise (Kelly) Hanson of Stanley, ND; six grandchildren Christi Wentz, Tami Jo Wentz, Shanna (Jay) Muller, Josh Wentz, Wyatt Hanson and Rhett Hanson; two great grandchildren Landon and Grayden Muller; sister Marge Olson, Rugby; brother Donald (Vangie) Wentz, Bismarck; sisters-in-law Betty Wentz, Bismarck, Lucy Schnabel, Lodi,CA, Flora McGarvey, Fargo, Ilene Schemionek, Devils Lake and Evelyn Nagel, Lake Havasu, AZ and numerous nieces and  nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rosie; son Arlin; brothers Leonard, Wendell and Larry and sister Loretta Schumacher.

Dennis will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Casket Bearers for Dennis will be Jay Muller, Josh Wentz, Wyatt Hanson, Rhett Hanson, Danny Frith, Tim Johnson, Dave McGarvey and Randy Schemionek.