Ludvig Bachmeier, 90, Minot and formerly of Lansford and Orrin passed away peacefully at the Trinity Hospital – Minot on June 6, 2023, weeks shy of his 91st birthday.
Ludvig “Louie” Bachmeier was born on June 21, 1932, in Orrin, ND. He was the seventh child of 16 children born to Felix and Katherine (Schmaltz). He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Orrin.
After just 6.5 years of schooling, Louie left school to work on the family farm. He left the farm in 1954 to work for the Burlington-Northern Railroad before beginning work in the oil fields from 1959 to 1966. His work in the oil fields took him to various parts of North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and back to North Dakota. During his time working for the railroad, Louie met and married Carol Schmelz. Together, they had four children: Nancy, David, Milissa, and Darin. In 1966, they moved to Lansford, ND, where Louie made a career for himself working at Sagsveen and Lee John Deere Implement Dealership (later known as Lee Brothers, Inc.). Some of his handwritten and typed notes tell how much he truly enjoyed his job and the people he worked with and for.
To say that Louie was proud of his work for Lee Brothers, Inc. would be an understatement. In their newsletter announcing his retirement, they had this to say about him: “Louie always had a thermos of coffee with him, and just as he shared his coffee with many of you, he would like to share a few words. ‘How can I ever thank you all enough for putting up with me for [over] thirty years? My thanks goes out to all my coworkers, bosses, and the farmers from a wide area. It was my pleasure to work with and for you.’” They also commended his work ethic, noting how much he enjoyed fixing tractor tires first thing in the morning and praised his unrivaled knowledge and reputation for his work on 7700 and 8800 series combines.
Louie met and married Myrtle (Seidemann) Waswick, of Granville, in 1980. They made their home in Lansford until 1995, when they moved to Minot. They spent their final years together at the Trinity Nursing Home and were able to celebrate 42 years of marriage before Myrtle’s passing in 2022.
When Louie’s family visited, he would drive his grandchildren around on his adult tricycle. He prided himself on sending everyone cards for their birthdays and holidays. Despite ending his education early, he always worked hard to include a personal handwritten or typed note in the cards. Louie was quick to share his opinion but just as quick to share his love.
Louie is survived by his daughters: Nancy Keefer and Milissa Delp (Randy); son: Darin (Vicki); stepdaughters: Glenda Gotvaslee (Kelvin Wells) and Gail Hove (Dean); grandchildren: Aubrey Wagner (Joe), Amy Borden (Jake), and Cheyenne and David Delp; step grandchildren: Donavon and Dayton Gotvaslee, Jordan Hove, Lindsey Justice (Jimmy), and Spencer Moffett; great grandchildren: Irie and Marley Graeser, Barrett and Keefer Borden, Lucas Wagner, and Rowan Justice; sisters: Helen Simons, Adeline Bonn, Caroline Heilman, Gertrude Aabrekke, and Janice Phillips; and brother: Gabriel Bachmeier and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Louie was preceded in death by his wife: Myrtle; son: David Bachmeier; son-in-law: Ron Keefer; sisters: Elizabeth “Betty” Dickey, Mary Eva Kramer, Julia Kramer, Magdalene Bachmeier, Dorothy Weigel, Amelia “Millie” Brown, and Esther Goldade; brothers: Jacob Bachmeier and Casper Bachmeier and stepson: Gary Waswick.
Funeral Service: 11:00 am on Thursday, June 22, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3705 11th St SW, Minot, ND, with visitation one hour before. The family will hold a private burial at a later date.
In lieu of plants and flowers the family would much prefer that you take the time to share a cup of coffee and conversation with a family member or friend who is confined at their home or in a nursing home.
