Erwin Ambrose Ust

Erwin A. Ust , 72, Portland, ND, passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at MeritCare Hospital, Fargo, ND. Erwin “Erv” was born on July 24, 1935, to Carl and Hazel (Ambroson) Ust in Mayville, ND. He was baptized at Norman Lutheran Church, Clifford, ND and was raised on the family farm near Clifford, ND. He graduated from Portland High School in 1953. While in high school, he joined the North Dakota National Guard-serving in the 816th Engineering Unit as a heavy equipment operator. On June 21, 1955, Erwin married Betty Braaten at Portland, ND. On December 31, 1993, he married Fran (Brandsted) Reinke at Mayville, ND. Erwin worked for the Steele County Soil Conservation and took over the family farm raising dairy cattle and small grains. In 1979, he went to work for Cenex Propane in Finley, ND. In 1984, he went to work for the Galesburg Co-Op Elevator in Galesburg, ND as the chemical and propane supervisor until his retirement in 2001. In his “retirement”, he worked for Traill County Rural Water in Clifford, ND, and Agriliance Fertilizer and Chemical in Portland, ND. Erwin served on the Clifford-Galesburg School Board for 20 years, including several years as board president. He was Edendale Township Assessor for 15 years, and a 4-H leader for the Edendale Stockmen for over 15 years. He was also director of the Clifford Rural Fire Protection District and was on the council of the Perry Lutheran Church where he also taught Sunday school. Erwin will always be remembered for his dry sense of humor and his quick wit. He loved spending time with his family and drinking coffee with his friends. He was proud of his children, but especially proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who had a very special place in his heart, along with his step-children and step-grandchildren. He became the “man of the house” at the young age of 15, after his father died. He was more of a father figure than older brother to his younger sisters and brother. Erwin is survived by his wife, Fran; son, Carl “Steven” (Shannon), Cibolo, TX; a daughter, Laurie (Todd) VanEnk , West Fargo, ND; sons, Robert (Stacy); and John (Lori), both Portland, ND; and David (Kathy), Clifford, ND; step-children, Todd (Glenys) Holman. Baxter, MN; Rodd (Tylene) Holman, Brandon, SD; Chad (Tracy) Holman, Fargo, ND; Kris Ann (Eric) Anderson, Clifford,ND; and Nathan (Jen) Reinke, Jacksonville, NC; grandchildren, Christopher (Neligh) Ust, Bellevue, WA; Rachel (Steve) Mann, Nixa, MO; Jacklyn Ust , Fargo, ND; Alexa Lundquist, Fargo, ND; Kelsey Lundquist, West Fargo, ND; Katelyn, Connor, and Reilly Ust, Cibolo, TX; Kari, Aaron and Hannah Ust, Portland, ND; Tyler and Ryan Ust, Portland, ND; Jeremy and Jordan Ust , Clifford, ND; step-grandchildren, Taylor Adams, Cibolo, TX; Ellen VanEnk, Fargo, ND; Marla and Maribeth VanEnk, Milnor, ND; Nicholas, Patrick Reanna, Ariel, and Sam Holman, Baxter, MN; Felicia, Tabitha, Katarina and Jeremiah Holman, Brandon, SD; Chaz and Paige Holman, Fargo, ND; Amy Anderson, Clifford, ND; and Belle Reinke, Jacksonville, NC; great grandchildren, Wesley and Spencer Mann, Nixa, MO; and Kaelyn Shuba, VA; sisters, Helen Johnson, Billings, MT; Phyllis (Dennis) Enger, Portland,ND; Shirley (Bert) Holman, Clifford, ND; sister-in-law, Joy (Curly) Ust-McLean, Hatton, ND; several nieces and a nephew; mother-in-law, Lucille Rygh, Mayville, ND; and brothers -in-law, Ed (Diana) Brandsted, Galesburg, ND: Ron (Jan) Brandsted, Pueblo, CO; and Gene (Kathy) Brandsted, Montevideo, MN. Erwin was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Gayle Marie, and his brother, Roger. Funeral Service: 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at Bruflat Lutheran Church, Portland, ND Visitation: 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, March 14, 2008 at Baker Funeral Home, Mayville, ND, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM, and one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial: Perry Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Portland, ND