Duaine Voigt

Duaine Voigt, age 92, of Raleigh, ND, passed away May 27, 2023, at West River Regional Medical Center, Hettinger, ND.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:30 PM CST on Friday, June 2, 2023, at St. Gertrude Catholic Church, Raleigh, ND, with Fr. Dennis Schafer as celebrant. Burial will be at St. Gertrude Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 5-7 PM CST at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Rosary/Parish Vigil at 7 PM CST. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Duaine was born in Elbowoods, ND, on May 24, 1931, the eldest child of John and Frances (Gondringer) Voigt. Duaine’s family ranched in Elbowoods until 1951, when the Corps of Engineers used eminent domain, forcing them off of the ranch. During the summer of 1951, they bought the Anchor Ranch on the Cannonball River in SE Grant County. Once the ranch was purchased, they trailed their Hereford cattle 175 miles from Elbowoods to the new ranch on the Cannonball River.

Duaine met Alma Twite, a nearby school teacher, while looking for a stray cow!? They married two years later on June 29, 1953, and together raised five children on his family ranch.  Duaine remained on the ranch until 2020. He was a great husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, brother, and uncle. He was very fond of all of his relatives and friends.  He loved making cookies with his grandkids. Duaine was a very positive person. He was gentle, patient, and kind, yet stern when needed.

Duaine had many interests when not ranching. He helped build the St. Gertrude school and church. He was a strong supporter of sports, a square dance caller, rodeo announcer, auctioneer, brand inspector, HS rodeo director, Raleigh Rodeo Club director, buffalo chaser with “Red” (his trusty pickup), deer hunter, storyteller (especially Elbowoods and deer hunting stories!), and one heck of a cowboy!

Duaine saw many changes in ranching during his lifetime. He grew up using a team of horses to plow, harvest, and feed cows. A horse tail was his fly swatter and hay in the sleigh was his heater. In his later years, he drove a tractor with a cab, heat, air conditioning, and GPS.

Duaine is survived by his daughter, Marcie (Voigt) Hepper (Curt), son, James Voigt (Pam); grandchildren, Jamie (Hepper) Gifford (Miles), Ryan Hepper (Tasha), Cassidy (Hepper) Goldstine (Aaron), Haylee Hepper (Cory Rife), Maverick Voigt, Garrick Voigt (Carly), Cerasi Voigt, Tyler Larson, Ashlee (Larson) Jennings (Cody), Alexia (Larson) Carlson (Chris), and Jessica Gardin (Tyler); great grandchildren, Aiyana Byrd, Brooklyn Hepper, Charli Hepper, Kingston Hepper, Rex Goldstine, Miles Goldstine, Murphey Gardin, Josephine Jennings; brothers, Mike Voigt (Bonnie) and Jerome Voigt; brother-in-law, Jack Hull; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Duaine was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Voigt, in 1988; sons, David Voigt and Doug Voigt; daughter, Martina (Voigt) Larson; great granddaughter, Daisy Mae; siblings, Bernard, David, Sister Frances Marie, Diana Hull, and Arlene (Ed) Jacobson.

Duaine is a symbol of ruggedness and fortitude. He lived a life of constant adventure and hard work during an era that few people appreciate today. When we think of Duaine, we can think of a life well-lived.