Wendall W. Uthke

Wendall W. Uthke, long time Devils Lake businessman passed away on Saturday evening, April 7, 2018 at his home in Devils Lake in the loving care of family and Altru Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial for Wendall will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 11:00 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. 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 Friday, April 13^th from 5:00 p.m.  until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary, Scripture Service and time of remembrance and sharing at 7:00 pm.  Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. 

Wendall Wallace Uthke was born on May 27, 1927 on the family farm at Eckman, ND the son of Harry and Sophia (Bristol) Uthke. He was raised on the family farm and in Rock Lake, attending Rock Lake Public School through the 8^th grade.  He was then needed to help his parents with the farm work and also working for other area farmers. 

At age 15, he and a few friends wanted to go to California to look for work, so to raise money for the trip, they hunted skunks and sold the hides. While in California, Wendall worked for a neon sign company.  He entered the United States Army on February 22, 1946 and served during the occupation of Korea.  He was honorably discharged on August 18, 1947 with the rank of Private First Class.

After his discharge, Wendall returned to North Dakota and began his career as a baker, working in bakeries in Bottineau, Cando, Devils Lake and Alaska. During this time he became involved with the Golden Gloves Association and achieved the 1951 Upper Midwest Heavyweight Championship Title. 

Wendall was smitten after being cared for in the hospital by a beautiful, caring nurse and he was united in marriage to Shirley M. Eresman on September 3, 1954 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. For a short time they lived in Fargo and Wendall worked at the Brownie Bakery, then moved to Hillsboro and had a one year lease with the Hillsboro Bakery. In 1956, they moved to Devils Lake and Wendall owned and operated Carlson’s Bakery for 25 years while raising their family.  He later managed Supermom’s Bakery in Minneapolis. 

When he retired from baking, he enjoyed many years tending an expansive garden, experimenting with different growing and gardening techniques.

Wendall had an appreciation for semiclassical music, was an avid reader and enjoyed talking politics, business and following current events. He liked woodworking and did a beautiful job refinishing furniture. He had a rather dry sense of humor and enjoyed good-natured teasing.  In recent years, though his health was failing, he kept that sense of humor to the end.  He will be so very missed. 

Loving family include his wife Shirley of 63 years; daughters Celeste M. (Robert) Barfield, Minot, Felise M. (James) Baer, Fergus Falls, MN, Allison S. (Kenneth) Scaletta, St. Paul, MN and Amy L. (Brent) Lindahl, Duluth, MN; grandchildren Josie Uthke (Michael Jordan II) Manville, ND; Jemma (Zackery) Gustafson, Minot; Wendy Scaletta, Sophia Scaletta and Kali Scaletta, St. Paul; Jace Fink and Marti E. Lindahl, Duluth; great grandchildren Adele Faul, Michael Jordan III, Leslee Gustafson, Dev’Ron Barfield and Olive Gustafson; sister-in-law Colleen Eresman, Devils Lake and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded by his parents; son Martin J. Uthke; daughter Viola D. Uthke; sisters Vera Anderson and Viola Doris “Dolly” Lambert; daughter-in-law Birgitta E. Blum Uthke; in-laws Leo and Margaret Eresman. 

Casket Bearers for Wendall will be James Baer, Brent Lindahl, Dennis Anderson, Ron Faleide, Gordon Engen, Rick Thibert, Zackery Gustafson and Michael Jordan II. Honorary Casket Bearers are Jace Fink and Michael Jordan III.  Reading the Scriptures will be Bob Barfield and Allison Uthke-Scaletta and Gift Bearers will be Colleen Eresman, Adele Faul, Dev’Ron Barfield and Sophie Scaletta.