Michael John Riediger

Michael John Riediger, age 37, of Orlando, FL passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021 from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.  A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, October 1, 2021 at 2:00PM at the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Bisbee, ND with Father Daniel Musgrave, celebrant.

Michael John Riediger was born Dec 13,1983 in Cando ND to Arlan & Wanda Riediger. He was baptized at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bisbee.  He lived on the family farm until his parents were divorced, then moving with his mother to various towns in ND.

He played basketball in school & continued to do it recreationally throughout his life.  He was a kid at heart, win or lose, he’d always be smiling.

During high school he moved to Devils Lake with his dad & brother Alan. He worked for local farmers & also went South custom combining. That was his favorite job, farming. So much so he had a John Deere tattooed on his arm. But the pay was low so he decided to make a change.

As a young adult he moved to Buffalo WY. & later Gillette WY.  He worked in the oil fields many years until he was laid off. He then worked in the coal mines, again was laid off due to changes in the economy. He felt neither jobs would be coming back so decided it was time to make another change.  He chose Orlando, FL as it had an abundance of jobs & a warm climate. He didn’t want to work in the cold anymore.  He was also closer to his dream job of offshore drilling which he planned to pursue after McKenna turned 18.

His daughter was his only child & his pride & joy.  McKenna said among her favorite things to do with her dad was walking along with him & Grandpa when they’d go hunting, whether it was for deer, antelope, or duck. When they went duck hunting, Cocoa, their dog went too.  She loved watching him retrieve the ducks!  One time when Mike was fishing at Bisbee Dam in a paddle boat, he caught a big northern.  It just kept pulling him around in circles!  A couple in a boat saw this happening & came over & netted the fish.  He got to keep it!   Without a doubt he loved the outdoors.

In April when his aunt & cousins visited Florida, he & McKenna would go to the beach with them or hang out at the resort pool. One particular day there was a shortage of inner tubes for the Lazy River. He said, “I’ll go find one”!  Sure enough he did!  Later we heard he took 1 from someone who set theirs down. He figured that was ok since the tubes weren’t supposed to leave the water area.

After a day at the pool or beach when the adults were too tired to do anything, he’d go with the younger adults (20/21 yrs) & teenagers to the park to play basketball or volleyball. Always came back smiling.  Even when they got their butts kicked by the Jewish kids they’d met there. He was a friend to everyone he met.  He would do anything to help another person out. That’s why he was well respected by his coworkers. Sadly, it was also easy for someone to take advantage of him. But he’d get his smile back & move on.

When a family member ended up in ICU on a vent, he called to say he went to the church & prayed, something he hadn’t done in a long time. He was looking forward to the Riediger family reunion in July but because of Covid restrictions it was cancelled. But with his positive attitude he said, “I’ll be there next year!”

Michael was killed instantly by a driver who was speeding & lost control. He jumped the median, became airborne & hit him head on. A witness estimated the speed on impact in excess of 100 MPH.  Michael’s vehicle rolled twice. In the pickup truck he was driving was also his 17 yr old daughter & his fiancé 5 yr old daughter. Neither had serious injuries. The highway patrol at the scene said because of his quick evasive action, he took the full impact, saving the girls lives. He said Michael was now an angel. Yes, we believe in Angels & that he did indeed go straight to Heaven.

He is survived by his Father Arlan Riediger, daughter McKenna Cudworth, brother Alan Riediger, half siblings Julis Glines, Cassandra Riediger, Arthur Frieze, & Elizabeth Frieze, grandfather John Von Alman, fiancé Melanie Gonzalas & her 2 children Jeniah Delgado & Josiah Gulfuchi, special niece Hannah Cudworth along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews & cousins.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Wanda Frieze, Grandparents Arnold & Phyllis Riediger & grandmother Sharon Landrus.

Refreshments & fellowship following at the Bisbee Senior Center.