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James Engelhart, 87, Venturia, ND, died Friday, June 14, 2024 at the Ashley Medical Center Nursing Home, Ashley, ND.
James Adam Engelhart, son of Katie (Meier) and Jacob Engelhart, was born July 10, 1936 near Venturia, ND. He was brought up 5 ½ miles west of Venturia, attended country school, and graduated from Zeeland High School, Zeeland, ND, in 1954. He then farmed with his parents.
While still in high school, the neighbor’s dad asked Jacob if James could drive their kids to school. Yes, he could. One of those kids just happened to be his future wife, Florence Mitzel. James married Florence at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Zeeland on January 28, 1957. They settled on the family farm where they raised seven children. Florence was an energetic worker on the farm. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with their kids and grandkids. They were married for 60 years, until Florence passed away in 2017.
James was an active member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, served on the Church Council, and belonged to the Knights of Columbus. His faith was important to him and as long as he could speak, he still said the Our Father and the Hail Mary. He had served as the President of the Ashley Medical Center Board and was a 4-H leader. He had a great collection of John Deere machinery (both real and toy). James loved antiques and if he had his way, he would have attended auction sales every day. Even when he was blind, he would attend sales, assessing items by feel, and deciding on a bid. He was an avid collector of John Deere snowmobiles-numbering 20+ (real, not toy), classic cars-his favorite being his 1957 Ford Fairland retractable, unique antiques, and the Venturia fire truck which has been in many parades.
James loved his land and took good care of it, growing flax, oats, wheat, and sunflowers.
Interestingly, James had his own church on the farm. He accomplished this by buying many items from the old St. Andrew’s Church and moved an abandoned church building onto his farm. He also had a building where one corner was outfitted as an old post office, one side an old bank, and another corner held a barbershop…all memorabilia from Venturia, which he dubbed his “Little Venturia Museum.”
James had a sharp mind and was excellent in math, science, English, history and government. Even as he aged he kept up with what was going on in the world. As long as he was able, James went to the Ashley café every weekday to meet his coffee buddies. There they solved the world’s problems and played the number game…to see who got “stuck” with the tab.
James is survived by seven children—Pat (Marvin) Olofson of Gwinner, ND, Jackie (Conrad) Malsam of Hosmer, SD, Lisa Moulsoff of Aberdeen, SD, Yvonne Engelhart of Wishek, ND, Kenny Engelhart of Bismarck, ND, Jimmy (Terra) Engelhart of Venturia, and Kristi (Ordeen) Ebel of Zeeland; two sisters—Elaine Geier of Bowdle, SD and Lenora (David) Salwei of Zeeland; 21 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, on May 24, 2017; his parents, Jacob and Katie; one brother, Marvin; and one sister, Donna Rath.
Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:00 AM, Saturday, June 22, 2024 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Zeeland, with Father Wenceslaus Katanga, Celebrant. Interment follows at the Church Cemetery. Musician will be Melissa Piatz; Lector will be James’s daughter, Yvonne; Offertory gift bearers will be grandchildren—Jonathan Olofson and Christopher Malsam; Mass servers will be Dennis Rossow, Matthew Rohrich, and Grace Rohrich; and Eucharistic Minister will be Brenda Nolz and usher will be Junior Nolz. Vocal selections will be “Here I Am, Lord”, “The Servant Song”, “Gift of Finest Wheat”, “Goodness of God and Scars in Heaven”, “Song of Farewell”, and “Soon and Very Soon”.
James requested that Casket bearers be his granddaughters—Brittanie Olofson of Fargo, ND; Jessica Malsam of Hosmer; Katie Ann Moulsoff and Jamie Krokel of Aberdeen; Brienne Engelhart of Lincoln, NE; Brooklyn Engelhart of Bowman, ND; Kaitlyn Stanton of Venturia; Hope Reierson of Pollock, SD; and Tiffany Engelhart, Allison Engelhart, and Jillian Engelhart of Venturia.
James had a wonderful, challenging, and fulfilling life and is now in heaven wrapped in Jesus’ loving arms.
A Wake Service is scheduled for 7:00 PM Friday at the Church with visitation commencing at 6:00 PM.
James’s funeral will be livestreamed at the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page.
Services are in care of Carlsen-Lien Chapel, Ashley.
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