Erwin "Percy" Bruestle, age 87 of Riverdale, ND, died November 1, 2012 at a Bismarck hospital.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, November 5th at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Riverdale with Pastor John Nilsen officiating. Burial will follow in the Coleharbor Cemetery with military rites provided by the American Legion Post 133 of Turtle Lake.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Sunday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Erwin Leroy Bruestle was born September 15, 1925 near Erhard, MN to Hallet and Annie (Hanson) Bruestle and was raised in Pelican Rapids, MN.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1943 at the age of 17. He traveled through Hawaii in route to Guadalcanal. He fought on the Marshall Islands and was first wounded in Saipan. Erwin also served in Iwo Jima, Guam, and was wounded again on Okinawa.

After the war, Erwin worked in a clothing store and then a funeral home in Pelican Rapids. He went to work for the R.E.A. as a lineman installing power lines in North Dakota and later worked for a contractor as a scraper operator in Yankton and Pierre, SD. On October 27, 1951, Erwin married Gloria Ann Boots. In 1956, he went to work for the Corps of Engineers in Riverdale as an electrician. He worked at the Garrison Dam until he retired in 1981.

Erwin was an active participant in the Garrison Wagon Train trail rides and enjoyed raising horses for show and pleasure riding. He enjoyed his 56 years of living in Riverdale. Grandpa Percy had a soft spot in his heart for all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by two daughters, Wanda Schlichenmayer and friend Al Toman of Mercer, ND, and Pam (Mike) Hennes of Grand Forks, ND; nine grandchildren, Jaimie, J.J., & Carolee (Schlichenmayer) Kauk, Jennifer, Tom, & Laura Hennes, Tim, Ryan, & Erika (Bruestle) Levey; twelve great grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Beth Bruestle of Pick City, ND.

He was preceded in death by his wife (Gloria), two sons (Steven & Jeffrey), one sister (Marge Webb), & one brother (Les).