Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271601
Title: Lewis A. Getz
Date: 4/19/1936-5/27/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 4/19/1936
Summary: Lewis A. Getz, 89, of Dickinson, ND, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family on May 27, 2025. A funeral service was held May 31, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home. Burial was at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND. Lewis A. Getz was born April 19, 1936, in Rhame, ND, the son of Oscar and Fern (Rue) Getz. He attended grade and high school in Rhame, graduating from high school in 1954. He was an outstanding athlete for the Rhame Piratesand was very active in all sports throughout these years. He attended Dickinson State College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. He participated in basketball, football and track for DSU and was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. He was always a very “Loyal” Rhame “Pirate” and DSU “Savage” and Blue Hawk fan. He attended Northern State University of Aberdeen, SD, receiving his master’s degree in education. He married LaVon Jensen in 1961. They had two children, Michael and Michelle. Lewis started his teaching and coaching career in Scranton, ND, in 1959. One of his coaching highlights was competing in the yearly basketball game he had with brother Leary and his Trenton Tigers team. Both brothers were very competitive and it was hard to have one team win or lose. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1962, serving through 1964. He returned to the Scranton School System as teacher and coach. In 1965, he took the position of high school principal, then served as Scranton school superintendent from 1969–1980. He served as Beach school superintendent from 1980–1987. In 1987–1990, he was employed by Dakota Western Insurance & Investment Centers of America. Lewis was the superintendent of the Cando School System from 1990-1998 and retired from education in 1998. In the summers, Lewis coached Little League baseball. He was very active in the American Legion posts and held the office of Commander at Scranton, Beach and Cando. He felt very proud to be able to serve his country. He organized the Scranton Cub Scouts and later the Scranton Boys Scouts and was always very proud of their accomplishments and honors they received. He enjoyed golfing with family, friends and especially the family golfing picnics. One of his highlights was to take Christopher golfing or working with him on his basketball shots, always emphasizing to work on the free throws as that would win the game. He loved the times he got to spend with Christopher looking at cars in car lots or just hanging out with him. Family meant so much to him and it was the main reason for the move from Bismarck to Dickinson in 2006, so he could attend more of his activities. A special honor for him was to be a great-grandpa to his very special great-granddaughters, Macklynn and Addilynn. Lewis was a member of St. John Lutheran Church as well as the Elks, Masons, American Legion, (Commander at Scranton, Beach and Cando), community clubs, church boards, AARP, ND Retired Educators Association as well as many other educator and community organizations during the years. Lewis worked on many projects and grants for the different communities. He wanted students to do their best so they would excel in all aspects of their life. He is survived by his son, Michael and Ellen Baird Getz; daughter, Michelle and Keith Kovash; grandson, Christopher (Kelsey Barth); great-grandchildren, Macklynn and Addilynn Kovash, all of Dickinson, ND; sisters-in-law, Patsy Getz, of Bowman, ND, JoAnn Getz, of Penguilly, MN, Patricia and Ron Moe, of Grand Forks, ND, and Kay Jensen Luken, of Council Bluffs, IA; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVon Getz; grandson, Mathew Allen Kovash; father, Oscar Getz; mother, Fern Getz Hagemeister; brothers, Dwaine (Sonny) Getz and Leary Getz; sisters, Darleen and Gerald McLaughlin and Margie Silbernagel and Robert Silbernagel; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Leola and Marvin Nibbe; brothers-in-law, Andrew Jensen and James Haag.
Red ID: FND_I_79098 Image ID: 525938 Image Notes: FND001 271601

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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