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BORN
1936
DIED
2025
Lewis Goetz Obituary
Lewis A. Goetz
April 19, 1936 - March 27, 2025
Funeral service for Lewis A Getz, 89, of Dickinson, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home. Burial for Lewis will take place next week at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.
Lewis A. Getz was born April 19, 1936, in Rhame, N.D., the son of Oscar and Fern (Rue) Getz. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family on May 27, 2025. Lewis attended grade and high school in Rhame, N.D., graduating from High School in 1954. He was an outstanding athlete for the Rhame Pirates as well as being very active in all sports throughout these years. He attended Dickinson State College and graduated with a BS 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, S.D., receiving his Master's Degree in Education.
He married LaVon Jensen in 1961. To this union, two children were born, son, Michael of Dickinson, N.D., and Michelle (Kovash) also of Dickinson, N.D.
Lewis started his teaching and coaching career in Scranton 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 H.S. principal, then serving 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 Systems 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 the car lots or just hanging out with him.
Family meant so much to him and was the main reason we moved from Bismarck to Dickinson in 2006 so we could attend more of his activities. A special honor for him was to be a great-grandpa to our 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's 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; grandchildren, Christopher, Kelsey, Macklynn and Addilynn Kovash all of Dickinson, N.D.; sisters-in-law, Patsy Getz, Bowman, N.D., JoAnn Getz, Penguilly, Minn., Patricia and Ron Moe, of Grand Forks, N.D.; and sister-in-law, Kay Jensen Luken, Council Bluffs, Iowa; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
He is 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; and brothers in law, Andrew Jensen and James Haag.
The family would like to thank Marietta Karey, special friend and caregiver to both Lewis and Lavon.
Arrangements by Stevenson Funeral Home. Remembrances and condolences can be shared at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.
April 19, 1936 - March 27, 2025
Funeral service for Lewis A Getz, 89, of Dickinson, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home. Burial for Lewis will take place next week at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.
Lewis A. Getz was born April 19, 1936, in Rhame, N.D., the son of Oscar and Fern (Rue) Getz. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family on May 27, 2025. Lewis attended grade and high school in Rhame, N.D., graduating from High School in 1954. He was an outstanding athlete for the Rhame Pirates as well as being very active in all sports throughout these years. He attended Dickinson State College and graduated with a BS 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, S.D., receiving his Master's Degree in Education.
He married LaVon Jensen in 1961. To this union, two children were born, son, Michael of Dickinson, N.D., and Michelle (Kovash) also of Dickinson, N.D.
Lewis started his teaching and coaching career in Scranton 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 H.S. principal, then serving 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 Systems 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 the car lots or just hanging out with him.
Family meant so much to him and was the main reason we moved from Bismarck to Dickinson in 2006 so we could attend more of his activities. A special honor for him was to be a great-grandpa to our 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's 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; grandchildren, Christopher, Kelsey, Macklynn and Addilynn Kovash all of Dickinson, N.D.; sisters-in-law, Patsy Getz, Bowman, N.D., JoAnn Getz, Penguilly, Minn., Patricia and Ron Moe, of Grand Forks, N.D.; and sister-in-law, Kay Jensen Luken, Council Bluffs, Iowa; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
He is 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; and brothers in law, Andrew Jensen and James Haag.
The family would like to thank Marietta Karey, special friend and caregiver to both Lewis and Lavon.
Arrangements by Stevenson Funeral Home. Remembrances and condolences can be shared at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Bismarck Tribune on May 29, 2025.
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