Robert "Vern" Ereth

Robert “Vern” Ereth, 92, died October 28, 2025, at Garrison Memorial Nursing Facility in Garrison, ND.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, with Fr. Keith Streifel celebrating. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.

Visitation will be held from 4-6 PM on Monday, November 3, 2025, at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a parish rosary & vigil at 6 PM followed by a time of sharing. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Robert “Vern” was born December 28, 1932, in Mandan, the first of 14 children to August and Rose (Leingang) Ereth. Vern attended school in Cannon Ball and later St. Joseph School in Mandan. At a young age Vern was adopted into the Sioux Tribe and his connection to his Native American friends and traditions was special throughout his life. Vern was raised on using a horse and buggy as well as a team of mules for farm and ranch work. As the oldest, Vern helped a lot with his siblings. He was a role model and someone they all looked up to as well as their part-time disciplinarian. At age 18, Vern enlisted in the US Army and served in the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge, Vern returned to ND and began working as a long-haul trucker. In the mid 50’s, he met Billi Chenoweth at The Tap Room in Bismarck. The two were married on March 25, 1959, and were great life and dancing partners for the next 50 years. They made their home in Mandan where they raised a daughter, Jacki. Years later they raised their grandson Robie, who was especially close to his Grandpa. Vern taught Robie to rope, ride horse, and hunt coyotes. Granddaughter Shandy, brought much joy and laughter to the family and Vern continued to instill many other life lessons to his grandkids who treasured him like no other.

Vern spent many years driving truck across the country with the last 30 years of his career hauling out of the Mandan Refinery for Transport Inc. He retired early to spend more time with his grandkids.

Vern had a lifelong love and appreciation for horse teams and enjoyed watching them work and pull. He enjoyed rounding up and working cattle, was a talented home butcher and skilled at skinning and processing deer. Vern like to hunt coyotes and helped friends at harvest time. He was well known for his old 1969 blue Ford pickup that his neighbors recall he served a lot of watermelon from. A stranger to no one, Vern loved to visit and reminisce, especially over a good meal. He would often pull out his wallet to share a treasured photo of his large family and siblings, referring to them as “His Tribe”. His family was his pride and joy. On Vern’s 90th Birthday he was honored to receive a Star Quilt and 2 eagle feathers from the Sioux Tribe.

Vern’s family loved him greatly and took care of him in his aging years. He lived in the same apartment complex as his daughter, granddaughter, and great-grandson for some time, where he enjoyed Shandy’s wonderful cooking as she spoiled him and his great-grandson, Kayden, looked forward to checking on him daily and bringing him his mail. His many siblings were often around to visit and include him in events and outings, always wanting to give back to their brother who helped care for them when they were young.

Vern was known to say, “When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go. There ain’t no getting around it.” He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Blessed to have shared in his life is his daughter, Jacki Ereth-Haff; grandson, Robie Ereth; granddaughter, Shandy Ereth; and great grandson, Kayden Weber, all of Mandan; brothers, Dennis (Vonnie), Bismarck, Gus (Sherry), Mandan, Roy (Lori), Helena, MT, Paul (Trish), Mandan, and Terry (Sandy), Mandan; sisters, Linda (Ben) Schafer, Wilton, Margaret (Tim) Schell, Oakes, and Lora Pfenning, Bismarck; sisters-in-law, Carol Ereth, Graham, WA, Lois Ereth, Junction City, KS, and Rosie Ereth, Mandan; as well as many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.

Vern was preceded in death by his wife Billi in 2009; his parents; sister, Marlene Bergum; brothers, Ray, Don, Ed, and Jerry Ereth; brothers-in-law, Jim Bergum and Joel Pfenning; nieces, Debra Kay Gunderson and Sherry Jo Ereth; nephews, Jason and Joseph Ereth; and Jacki's finance, Zlatko “Z” Memovic.

In memory of Vern we ask that you share some watermelon with your neighbors, family, and friends.

We would like to thank everyone who helped care for Vern. A special thank you to Kelly Hurley for always being a phone call away to help.