Henry Joseph Lange Jr.

Henry Joseph Lange Jr., 89 of Devils Lake, ND was called to his heavenly home on Friday, November 16, 2018 at home with his loving wife by his side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Henry will be laid to rest in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 20^th from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 6:30 p.m.  Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass.

   Henry was born October 4, 1929 at the Devils Lake Mercy Hospital, the son of Henry Joseph and Pauline (Minette) Lange.  In his youth, he was raised on the family farm doing daily chores, and took great pride in his farm boy roots - always knowing the importance of hard work.  He attended his first 8 years of school at Morris Township #2 in rural Webster, graduated from St. Mary’s High School with the Class of 1947, then attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. 

   He married Margaret Bosch at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in 1950, and entered into the Airforce in 1951. He attended Russian Language School in Monterey, California to become a Secret Service Specialist. In 1952, he and his unit were stationed in Darmstadt, Germany to monitor Russian aircraft. During this time, he and Marge had the privilege of traveling to San Giovanni Rotondo in Italy to attend the Mass being said by Padre Pio, who was canonized a Saint in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. 

   After discharge in 1955, they moved to Missoula where he received his degree at Montana State University in History and Political Science. He worked various jobs to include serving as General Agent for the Union Reserve Insurance Company in Great Falls, MT, Social Worker at both the Benson County Welfare in Minnewaukan and Ramsey County Human Service Center in Devils Lake, and managed the Lange Supply Business. His real love, though, was planting thousands of evergreen trees that were sold for Christmas trees and transplanting.

   He was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph’s Parish Board, and St. Mary’s School Board.

Henry had many talents and a great sense of humor.  He was honorable, generous, kind hearted, and a gentle man.  He enjoyed singing in the Church choir, fishing, cross stitching, canning, and chopping wood to keep the home fires going. He loved gardening and sharing the produce with family and friends. Henry was a loving and prayerful man of character to be envied, proud of his family, and a good friend and neighbor to many.

   He is survived by his wife, Margaret, sons, Richard (Kim) Lange of Minneapolis, MN, Jeff (Val) Lange of Bismarck, ND, Jean (David) Willett of Goleta, CA, Jolene (David) Stoxen of Redding, CA, Sharon (Dennis Mason) Lange of Katy, TX, Meg (Nels) Nelson of Devils Lake, ND, Pat (Scott) Snell of Bemidji, MN, Sara (Craig) Steffan of Bismarck, ND, 29 Grandchildren, 4 Great Grandchildren, brothers Gerry (Alice) and Donald, sisters Joan Adkins and Judy Kalyszny, and sisters-in-law Anita Lange and Ann McIntyre.

   Henry was preceded in death by an infant son, Benedict, his parents and siblings Edmund, Lawrence (Lindy), Mary Margaret (Ray) Hubbuch, Norbert (Margorie), Ralph (Margie), John, Dewey, LaVonne, sister-in-law Mary Lange, and other beloved family members.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the charity of the donor's choice.