In Touch with Prairie Living, April 2025
By Michael M. Miller
I would like to recognize some of the names of Notable Germans from Russia from Canada and USA shared on the GRHC website at Recognizing Germans from Russia – https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/outreach/recognizing-germans-russia. There are additional names not included here. If you have suggestions of other names, please contact me.
Father Boniface Axtman (1908-1990) was born in Rugby, N.D. In 1940, he was selected to conduct at San Beda College, Manila, Philippines. He spent two years in an internment camp when the Japanese took over during WWII. Glen Beck, born in Everett, Wash., is a talk host and producer. Craig Bohl, native of Lincoln, Neb., was head football coach at the University of Wyoming and NDSU. Oscar Brosz (1919-1993), native of Tripp, S.D., was a banker from 1919 to 1959. Early in his career, together with a banker in Freeman, S.D., he managed the monetary donations that supported the shipment of milk cows to Germany immediately after World War I. Thomas Daschle, native of Aberdeen, S.D., served as both Majority and Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate (1987-2005).
John Denver (1943-1977), born John Dutschendorf, Jr., in Roswell, N.M., was a singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. Angie (Brown/Braun) Dickinson, born in Kulm, N.D., was an actress in movies and in the “Police Woman” television series. She received North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt Roughrider Award in 1992. Mike Dosch (1909-1984), native of Strasburg, N.D., was an accordionist and organist for KFYR TV, Bismarck in the 1950s-1960s. Weston Dressler, native of Bismarck, N.D, was a Canadian Football League (CFL) player. In 2024, he was inducted to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Adolph Dubs (1920-1979) was born in Chicago. While serving as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (1978-1979), he was kidnapped and assassinated. Dr. Richard Ehman, originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, specializes in diagnostic imaging at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Michael Enzi, native of Thermopolis, Wyo., is a retired U.S. Senator from Wyoming from 1997 to 2021. Ronald Erhardt (1931-2012), native of Mandan, N.D., was head football coach at NDSU and an NFL football coach. Donald Everett, native of Lincoln, Neb., is president of Runza Restaurants founded by his Volga German grandmother, Sara Brening Everett. In 1949. Tim Gaines, native of Portland, Ore., was long-time bassist for the Christian metal band Stryper.
Charles Gemar, native of Scotland, S.D., was a Lieutenant Colonel and NASA astronaut with three space shuttle missions. Matt Groenig, native of Portland, Ore., is a cartoonist, writer and producer, and animator. He is the creator of “The Simpsons” television series. Monika Grossman, is a director, actress, and teaches theatre at Florida State University. She was born in Kazakhstan, and at age six immigrated to Germany. Henry D. Herr, native of Wishek and Bismarck, N.D., retired as a healthcare executive. Herr received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters awarded by the University of North Dakota in 2022.
Richard Hieb, native of Jamestown, N.D., with heritage to Kulm, N.D., was a NASA astronaut and veteran of three space shuttle missions. Raymond Hirsch (1897-1964), born in Tripp, S.D., enlisted in the U.S. Navy, joining the famous John Phillip Sousa Military Band and played the sousaphone. Michael Huether, native of Yankton, S.D., is the former mayor of Sioux Falls, S.D. and a philanthropist with significant donations to sports facilities in South Dakota communities. Alvin Jaeger, native of Beulah, N.D., was North Dakota Secretary of State from 1993 to 2024. Johnny Klein, Jr., (1918-1997), native of Strasburg, N.D., was drummer on “The Lawrence Welk Show” for 25 years. Cheryl Ladd, native of Huron, S.D., is an actress, singer and author. Richard Loffler, native of Regina, Saskatoon, Canada, is an award-winning wildlife sculptor including Buffalo Trail at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Judith Knittel Meierhenry, native of Gregory, S.D., was the first woman justice to serve on the South Dakota Supreme Court from 2002 to 2011. Randy Meissner, (1946-2023), native of Scottsbluff, Neb., was the bassist and founding member of the rock band, the Eagles (1971-1977). Reuben Mettler (1924-2006), born in Shafter, Calif., with roots in Menno, S.D., was a rocket pioneer. Allan Neuharth (1924-2013), native of Eureka, S.D. was a journalist and founder of USA Today. Dr. Harold J. Miller, native of Strasburg, N.D., was president of Mary College from 1970 to 1978. He served as Chairman of the Board for the University of Mary where he worked for 50 years. In 2005, he received an Honorary Doctor of Leadership from Mary. Paul Sand (1914-1984), born in Balta, N.D., a World War II veteran, was elected to the North Dakota Supreme Court in 1974. Joey Schmidt, native of Napoleon, N.D. and musician, performed on “The Lawrence Welk Show.” He has performed with the Alan Jackson Band. Dr. Russell Schnell, native of Castor, Alberta, Canada, a biologist, chemist, and atmospheric scientist, was a Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient in 2007. Brian Schweitzer was former governor of Montana from 2005 to 2013. He appears in Prairie Public’s award-winning 2005 documentary, “It’s All Earth and Sky.” Harold Serr, native of Tyndall, S.D., was a longtime employee of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In 1921, he was one of the young men from southeastern South Dakota who traveled to Europe by ship to care for more than 700 milk cows that had been donated to the German people from South Dakota farmers.
Jonathan Toews, native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was a National Hockey League professional hockey player for the Chicago Black Hawks. Charles Wald, native of Minot, N.D., is a four-star general in the U.S. Air Force, former Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command. He received an Honorary Doctorate from NDSU. Lawrence Welk (1903-1992), native of Strasburg, N.D. was a musician, accordionist, bandleader and television personality. He received the first North Dakota Roughrider Award in 1961. In 1965, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from NDSU. Haley Wickenheiser, of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, Canada was a Canadian ice hockey player and four-time Olympic gold medalist. Dr. Delore Zimmerman of Grand Forks, Minn. and native of Wishek, N.D. founded Praxis Strategy Group, an economic and development company with work in West Africa. He received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of North Dakota in 2022.
For more information about donating family histories and photographs, or how to financially support the GRHC, contact Jeremy Kopp, at jeremy.kopp@ndsu.edu or 701-231-6596; mail to: NDSU Libraries, Dept. 2080, PO Box 6050, Fargo, N.D. 58108-6050; or go to www.ndsu.edu/grhc. You may also contact me directly at michael.miller@ndsu.edu or 701-231-8416.
April column for North Dakota and South Dakota weekly newspapers.