Donald “Don” Liebelt, 92, Bismarck, passed away August 28, 2023. Memorial Services will be held at the Bismarck Funeral Home on Friday, September 29, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
Donald was born to Reinhold W. and Lydia (Schindler) Liebelt on June 12, 1931, in a sod house on the family farm South of Harvey, ND. Donald took his last earth breath and his first breath in heaven on August 28, 2023, reaching the age of 92 years, two months and 16 days. His elementary education was in a school near his home where his siblings also attended and completed one year at Harvey High School.
Don found Jesus Christ as his personal savior at an evangelistic meeting at the Bethel Baptist Church in Harvey ND late fall of 1950. The evangelist was blind, but his sermons were enlightening. Many souls were won to Christ during those services. Don was baptized the following summer by the Reverend Aaron Buhler and became a member of the Bethel Baptist Church at that time.
He was united in marriage to Betty June Reimche, daughter of John C. and Esther (Dockter) Reimche on August 26, 1951. They celebrated 72 years of marriage two days before God called him home.
Don was an avid farmer. He started farming with his father Reinhold. He was always interested in trying new crops and new ways of farming and improving the land, leaving it better condition than what he found it. In 1958, Don moved his family of seven to a farm in Royalton MN, where he was introduced to soybeans and buckwheat. He farmed in both states for 2 ½ years before moving back to the Harvey area per his grandmother Matilda’s request to farm her land. He moved his family to the original Liebelt homestead in Sheridan County southwest of Harvey. He was also able to buy the farm on which he was born in 1968, moving his family there in the fall of 1969. He continued farming until 1986 when he retired and moved to Harvey. Even in retirement, he still drove farm equipment helping the Reimche family.
From August 1998 to June 2022 Donald and Betty retired to the Belle Fourche and Spearfish SD area. Due to Don’s failing health they moved to Bismarck in June of 2022. Don made his home at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. The last three weeks of his life were under Sanford Hospice Care where they provided excellent care and comfort.
Don often said years later that the move to Belle Fourche, South Dakota was the best move they ever made. There he attended the Christian Life Center Church. Don joined a Bible study which he attended for fifteen years. Following the Bread of Life devotional, Don and Betty read through the Bible at least 10 times during their married life.
He is dearly loved and missed by those he leaves behind: his wife, Betty, daughters, Scharlotta (Lottie) Hermanson, of Orlando FL, Kandis (Richard) Johnson, of Lake City FL, Michelle and Chuck Spangler, of Prairie City SD; Sons, Steven (Eva) Liebelt, of Bismarck, Michael Liebelt, of Lake City, FL and Kerry (Kirsten) Liebelt, of Maple Grove MN; 24 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson; sister, Marlys Whiteside; and brother, Myron (Diane) Liebelt, all of California; brother-in-law, Ronald (Carol) Reimche, Harvey, ND; many nieces, nephews, and cousins, along with hosts of friends and acquaintances in North and South Dakota and Minnesota.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his in-laws, his grandson Spec. Michael Layne Hermanson, May 23, 2006, in Iraq, sons-in-law, Dennis Mittleider and Layne Hermanson, brother, Lloyd and his wife Naomi Liebelt, and sister, Beverly Gessele.