ERVIN H. "DOC" DOCKTER

Ervin H Dockter

March 31, 1924 to May 2, 2018. Resided in Devils Lake North Dakota

Ervin was born on a farm near Monango, North Dakota on March 31, 1924. He and his twin brother, Melvin, were the last of 10 children born to Gottlieb and Magdalena (Frigen) Dockter.  Ervin was the last surviving member of the family when he passed away peacefully on May 2, 2018 while hospitalized at Grand Forks, North Dakota. 

Ervin spent his childhood in the Monango area graduating from Monango High School in 1942. In 1944, he joined the Navy serving his country during WWII alongside his twin brother.   After his discharge in 1946, he attended Ellendale College graduating in 1949.  After graduation, Ervin joined the Federal Division of Education for the Department of Interior working for approximately 34 years in various positions and locations until his retirement on October 31, 1983. 

Ervin married Myrna L Wallace on March 12, 1949 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Monango North Dakota. To this union two sons were born, James (Charlotte Keller) who currently reside in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Michael (the late Janel Jablonsky) and special friend Becky Svangstu who resides in Minot, North Dakota,  He is also survived by 8 grandchildren – Jennifer, Jacqueline, Jessica, Jeanine, Kaylee, Kelsey, Julie and Nicholas and by 4 great grandchildren – Evan, Abby, Ellie and Avery. 

Ervin lost his beloved wife of 57 years, Myrna Wallace on January 21, 2007. He missed her terribly over the 11 year span of absence. He was also preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law Janel.

Ervin was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW. He proudly served as part of the Devils Lake Honor Guard granting final military honors to numerous deceased veterans over 20 plus years. The family requests no gifts, donations may be given to the VFW Honor Guard, Devils Lake.

Services will be held at 2pm on Monday, May 7, 2018 at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery located outside of Mandan, North Dakota on May 8, 2018 at 11:00am.  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-Navy.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 7th from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake and will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

The family requests donations given to the VFW Honor Guard, Devils Lake in memory of Ervin.