John P. Bruggman, 91, Fort Yates, ND, died December 21, 2014 at Sanford Health Systems in Bismarck.
Funeral will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 26, 2014 at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, ND with Deacon Randy Frohlich officiating . Inurnment will be held at a later date at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Fort Yates.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 pm on Friday, December 26, 2014 at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, ND.
John was born in Niederwil, St. Gallen in Switzerland to Rosa & Joseph Bruggmann. John was in the Swiss Army during World War II and came to North Dakota in 1950 to farm with his cousin Oscar Bruggmann. He married Helen Schaf in 1951 and raised their children on the farm/ranch outside of Fort Yates, ND.
John was the oldest of 14 children; all of his siblings remained in Europe. John loved living on his farm and caring for his animals and planting the crops for each year. He also enjoyed reading.
John will be deeply missed by his daughters, Viola (Doug) Wentz, Chaska, MN, Magdalene Holz, Grand Forks, ND, Anita (Steve) Hedrington, Pahrump, NV and Diane Combs, Glen Ullin, ND; sons, Bernard (Colette), Sacramento, CA, Joseph, East Valley City, UT, Jerome, Fort Yates, ND and Francis (Stephanie), Cologne, MN; 9 grandchildren, Nicole Bruggman, Bob Campbell, Stephanie, Shannon & Sondra Wentz, Beaux Bruggman, Joshua (Megan), Katherine & Christina Bruggman and one great-grandchild, Liliana; sisters, Hilde Menzi, Helen (Fernando) Frei, Thea (Urban) Fritashi-Bruggmann all of Switzerland and Ursula (Carlos) Venetti of Italy; brothers, Alois (Pia) and Peter (Odette) Bruggmann both of Switzerland.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen; infant daughter, Mary; sons, Bruno at age 5 and John as an infant; son-in-law, Lester Holz; sisters, Rose ( Ernst) Ebere, Maria (Anton) Heuberger and Marie (Paul) Louise; brothers, Paul, Hugo (Elsi), Timothy and Othmar.