Rudolph Auch

Rudolph Oscar Auch, 77, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Thursday September 5, 2013 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls.

He was born February 2, 1936, in Mott, North Dakota. He was the youngest child of eleven children born to Karl and Sadie (Mohr) Auch. He attended elementary school in a one room school house near Burt, North Dakota. He then attended Mott Lincoln High School, graduating in 1954. Because the German language was spoken exclusively in the home, Rudy began first grade not knowing the English language and often told stories about the teacher not knowing German.
On June 15, 1957, he married Phyllis Marjorie Ding in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He served in the U.S. Air Force, beginning his career on June 28, 1954. His assignments included Lackland AFB, TX; Chanute AFB, IL; Minot AFS, ND; Sondrestrom AFS, Greenland; and McChord AFB, Washington. In 1965 he transferred to Fergus Falls as an Air Force Recruiter for four years. He served a tour of duty with HQ U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany from 1969-1972, and returned for his final assignment once again as the Air Force recruiter in Fergus Falls. He retired from active duty on September 1, 1974. He then served as the Assistant Veterans Service Officer for Otter Tail County from 1974 to 1983, and as the Veterans Service Officer for Norman County in Ada, MN, retiring on February 28, 1998.

Rudy was a 40 year member of American Legion Post 30 in Fergus Falls, a life member of Disabled American Veterans Post 25, and a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls.

He enjoyed traveling, fishing, playing cards, board games, visiting, carpentry, shopping for and buying cars and pickups. He owned 45 different vehicles in his life time. One of his greatest pleasures was discussing vehicles with anyone who would listen. He also liked to negotiate with car dealers for the best price. One of his greatest joys was time spent with family. He proudly raised four children and kept the priority of his family through 27 moves.

He will be greatly missed by his wife Phyllis Auch; children Kelly Auch of Buffalo ND, Sherry (Don) Peterson of Buffalo ND, Tammy (Keith) Johnson of Fergus Falls MN and Kory (Kristin) Auch of Tampa FL; grandchildren Jesse Auch, Jason Auch, Joshua (Jessica) Peterson, Dustin (Lindsey) Peterson, Adam Johnson, Amber Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Madison Auch, Carter Auch, and Dixon Auch; great-grandchildren Tristan Auch, Audrey Auch, Harper Peterson, Chase Peterson, and Connor Peterson; brothers Emanuel Auch of Dickinson ND and Arvin Auch of Bismarck ND; sister-in-law Mary Ann Unruh; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Karl and Sadie Auch, brothers: John, Rhynold, Theophil, and Edwin, and sisters Lenora Siewert, Amanda Frey, Frieda Barry and Viola Auch.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with a 7 p.m. prayer service and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church
Service : 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 12, 2013, at Grace United Methodist Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Rev. Wesley Gabel
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls is in charge of arrangements