Richard Grenz Obituary

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Richard Grenz

Richard "Dick" Grenz, 69, died Jan. 24, 2000 after a 16 year battle with cancer. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at First United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Kermit Culver officiating. Burial will be in North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with full military rites provided by V.F.W. Post No. 1326.

Richard "Dick" Grenz was born Sept. 23, 1930 at Hazelton, the son of Jacob and Lydia (Serr) Grenz. They lived on the farm southwest of Hazelton until 1937. The family then moved to Washburn, returning to Hazelton in 1942. Richard graduated from Hazelton High School in 1948 and from Interstate Business College in 1949. He was employed by the Bank of Hazelton and the First National Bank in Bismarck before entering the U.S. Army in October 1950. He was stationed in Germany and after his discharge in September, 1953, he returned to 1st National Bank and it was there that he met Elaine Krein. They were married on June 27, 1954, at Bismarck Baptist Church. He was a ND State Bank Examiner before he met Elaine and moved to Strasburg in 1960, where he was president of the Strasburg National Bank.

While in Strasburg, he was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6264; ND State Commander in 1975-76; treasurer of the Strasburg Public School District; President of the ND Banking Association in 1969; bowling and golfing leagues; and a member of the United Methodist Church in Linton. During his spare time, Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing.

In December 1980, he sold the bank and they moved back to Bismarck where he made a career change and became part owner of Golden West Travel. In 1994, he and Elaine purchased Viking Travel. They retired from the travel business in 1996.

In Bismarck, Richard was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 1326; BPOE 1199; Moose Club; Amvets, American Legion, and the First United Methodist Church. The past 10 years were spent at their homes in Peoria, Ariz., and Bismarck. Golfing became a favorite pastime in both places.

Grateful to have shared their life are his wife, Elaine Marcella Krein Grenz; one son, Gail Grenz, Dallas, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Jack and Cindy Lee Kramer, Kingman, Ariz.; five grandchildren, Amber and Amanda Kramer and Andrew, Jaime and Christopher Grenz; one brother and sister-in-law, Harry and Edna Grenz, Hazelton; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Donald and Martha McDonald, and Frank and Irene Ostlund, all of Minneapolis; and one sister-in-law, and one brother-in-law, Tom and Verla Geloff, Bismarck. He also leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Lydia; one brother, Elmer; and one sister, Ruby. Also preceding him in death were his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ben and Luella Krein. (Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck)