L.J. "Louie" Foertsch

Ludwig Joseph Foertsch was born to John and Clara (Pausch) Foertsch on September 12, 1917 at Douglas, ND.  He retired as a farmer and from the US Post office as a rural mail carrier.  He was a life member of the American Legion at Wyndmere and the VFW of Barney, ND.

Louie married Ardella Reese on February 21, 1939 and she passed away on July 17, 1990. They farmed in the Wyndmere area for their entire married life. Louie married Gretchen Podlikska on September 12, 1992 at Lidgerwood, ND where they resided until Louie entered St. Gerard's Home in April of 2007.

Louie served with the US Navy during WWII aboard the USS Belleau Wood from 1944-1946. He did carpentry work and had a woodworking shop in Lidgerwood where he made many craft items for the members of the family. His "Welcome" signs can be found on nearly every doorstep of a "Foertsch" family home. All grandchildren and great-grandchildren were made a coat tree in either pink or blue and many of these same children spend time on their rocking horses or oak rocking chairs that Grandpa made for them.

Louie is survived by his wife Gretchen, Lidgerwood, ND, seven children, Rose Ann (Donald) Blazek of Wyndmere, Judy (Clay) Hegseth of Sioux Falls, SD, Ken (Karen) Foertsch of Medical Lake, WA, Dennis (Dennise) Foertsch of Wyndmere, Susan Davis of Wahpeton, Rick (Heidi) Foertsch of Wyndmere, Kris Foertsch of Breckenridge; three step-children, Evonne Kelly of Lidgerwood, Sandy (Keith) Curran of Sisseton, SD and Ken (Jolene) Podliska of Lidgerwood; his brother, Melvin (Beatirce) Foertsch of Wyndmere; his sisters, Eleanor Durkee of Breckenridge, MN, Isabella Howe of Laguna Woods, CA, Mary Ann Blazek of West Fargo, ND; 31 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; two sisters-in-law, Doris Riemann of Hankinson, ND and Lavonne (Norman) Alme of Milnor, ND; and two brothers-in-law, Bill (Doris) Reese of Wyndmere and Leon Westhoff Sr. of Perham, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ardella; an infant daughter, Mary Theresa; two brothers, Joseph and Raymond Foertsch; his sister Hildegard Lunde; and his step-son-in-law, Jerry Kelly.

He passed away at St. Gerard's Home in Hankinson, ND. His age at death was 90 Years, 4 Months, 7 Days. Mass of the Christian Burial was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Lidgerwood, ND with burial at St. John The Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Rural Wyndmere, ND. Officiating were Fr. Robert Smith, Fr. Len Loegering, and Msgr. Joseph Huebsch. Pianist was Barb Haberman, Cantor was Kathy Skroch. Casketbearers were Grandsons - Dylan Foertsch, James Foertsch, John Foertsch, Kyle Blazek, Cory Davis, Josh Podliska and Junior Casketbearers were Nicholas Foertsch and Seth Huntimer.