World War II Veteran Donovan Lloyd Herman passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at the age of 95.

Donovan was born July 18, 1923 to George and Elsie (Gerig) Herman on their farm in Normania Township near Brinsmade, ND. He attended a rural school in Normania Township and high school in Brinsmade, where he graduated Salutatorian.  He worked on the farm with his father and then went into the U.S. Army and served in Germany.  In 1946 he came home on a cargo ship which almost capsized several times in a severe storm.  All on board had tears in their eyes when they saw the Statue of Liberty.  About a week after he was home, he met the girl he eventually married, Ruth Marie Holmgren of Battle Lake, Minnesota.  They lived and farmed near Brinsmade, ND.

In early years, Donovan shoveled coal from boxcars for a dollar a ton just to earn extra money, and later sold insurance for many years in addition to farming. He was involved in many organizations during his lifetime.  He was a member of the Christian & Missionary Alliance  Church of  Brinsmade for 48 years, Trinity Free Lutheran Church of Minnewaukan for 17 years, then Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Devils Lake since 1988. He was a board member in all three churches, taught Sunday School many years, and served as a deacon.  He also served on the McClellan Township Board, served on and was president of the Leeds School Board, sold insurance for Nodak Mutual for 19 years, served on and was president of the Benson County Farm Bureau Board, was a member  of Gideons International in the Lake Region Camp since 1986, Devils Lake Area Foundation Board member, Cross Roads Range Bible Camp Board, and belonged to the Devils Lake Kiwanis Club since 1990.

Donovan will be remembered by all who knew him as a humble, honest man whose word was as good as any contract. He was an amazing, Godly  father who always believed in his children, and gently guided each of them to seek a faith in Jesus Christ, a college education, and good careers.  He taught his children to measure their success more by reputation and character than by net worth.  Donovan loved his Lord, his wife and his family with all his heart. 

Donovan is survived by his wife of 71 3/4 years, Ruth Marie (Holmgren) Herman. Children: Wendell (Susan) Herman of Fargo, ND; Wesley (JoEllen) Herman of Dallas, TX; Donita (Rick) Lenz of Buffalo, WY; Rollin (Michelle) Herman of Devils Lake, ND; Jodi (Duane) Decker of Vancouver, WA; Jay (Dawn) Herman of Champlin, MN. 16 Grandchildren: Mark (Jocelyn) Herman, Kristin (Craig) Dorn, JesAlexis Herman, Ashli (Jason) Hickman, Michael Lenz, Melissa (Wes) Wells, Alexia (Joel) Suiter, Anthony (Rebecca) Herman, Eric (Logan) Herman, Rochelle (Ryan) Kruse, Stewart Decker, Elisa (Houston) Cresto, Jace Decker, Lynelle Decker, Corban Herman, Jenna Herman.  18 Great-grandchildren:  Caleb and Eliana Herman, Kellen, Cayden, Nyah and Lyla Dorn, Cash and Bodhi Hickman, Teagun and Treyton Wells, Julia, Adelinne, and Evan Suiter, Kara and Samuel Herman, Kate and Walt Herman, and Alaina Kruse. 3 Brothers: George Herman and Dwayne (Bonnie) Herman, of Devils Lake and Dale (Ruth) Herman of Fargo and sister-in-law, Audrey Herman of Brinsmade. Many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, George & Elsie (Gerig) Herman, brother Ardon Herman, sisters and brothers-in-law Iris (Willard) Hoglund, Phyllis (Kenneth) Ellingson, Carol (Gilbert) Esau, and Delores (Eddie) Bargen and sister-in-law Colette Herman.

 Funeral Services for Donovan will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at Bethel Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Bruce Dick and Pastor Bryce Harcey officiating. 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-Army.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel, Devils Lake on Friday, March 1, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with a time of prayer and sharing at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Brinsmade Cemetery in the spring.

Memorials may be directed to Gideon’s International, Bethel Church, Devils Lake Area Foundation, Devils Lake Kiwanis Club or the charity of the donor’s choice in memory of Donovan.