Reuben Wagner

Reuben Wagner, 94, Bismarck, passed away in a Bismarck Care Center on November 19, 2024. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 26 at 11:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Bismarck with his nephew, Rev. Allen Wagner, officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery at 2 p.m.  

Reuben was born on October 1, 1930, to George and Katharina (Forderer) Wagner at home on the family farm in Emmons County. He attended school in a nearby one-room schoolhouse, graduating eighth grade before leaving school to help on the farm. In addition to working on their farm, he was part of a threshing crew that helped shock grain and haul bundles for others in their community.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952, training in Arkansas and Colorado, to fight in the infantry during the Korean War. While on leave just prior to being sent overseas, a peace treaty was signed, and he spent the remainder of his term on U.S. soil before being honorably discharged in 1954. After returning home, Reuben began his career as a carpenter and construction worker, helping on projects such as missile sites in South Dakota and commercial buildings, including the Gateway Mall in Bismarck. In the days when construction often stopped for the winter months, Reuben would volunteer to be among the first laid off, because he wanted to make sure the men with families could work as long as possible to support their wives and children. Reuben was a lifelong bachelor who lived a very simple, frugal and humble life.

In his spare time, Reuben enjoyed working on his cars, collecting “old things," rocks, and watching old westerns – especially Gunsmoke. He did not like anything new or showy – even the color red was “too flashy” for Reuben.

Reuben is survived by his brothers, Elmer (Marge) Wagner of Bismarck; Ray (Mary) Wagner of Rapid City, South Dakota; sister-in-law Arlene Wagner of Linton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Harold, sisters and brothers-in-law Pauline (Jake) Tschritter and Corrine (Larry) Fruhwirth, sister-in-law Fran Wagner, and nieces Lyndel Tschritter and Arlys Isaak.

The family would like to thank the employees at Edgewood on Dominion for the care and kindness they showed Reuben over the last several years.