Michael (Mike) P. Erdmann, 65, Turtle Lake, died Wednesday, April 4, 2012 peacefully in his home. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 7, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Turtle Lake. Burial will be at the Turtle Lake Cemetery. Following services, a luncheon will be held at the American Legion Hall in Turtle Lake.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6, at St. Catherine's Church with a prayer service to follow. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Mike was born on Dec. 8, 1946, to Cecil and Ida (Jordan) Erdmann in Harvey, ND. He was raised on the family farm north of Denhoff, along with his four younger brothers. Mike's childhood was filled with many antics on the farm with his brothers, cousins and neighbor boys. It was also during this time he developed his hard work ethic and love of the countryside. Mike graduated from Goodrich High School in 1964 and attended the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton. He returned to Denhoff to farm with his dad and began working at Farmers Union Oil in Denhoff/McClusky. On August 17, 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Aileen (Jenner) Erdmann and the couple lived in Denhoff. In 1976, Mike and Aileen moved to Turtle Lake with their two young daughters, Lynn and Beth. Mike was the manager at Mobil Oil in Turtle Lake for three years before working at Farmers Union Oil – Turtle Lake for almost 30 years. Mike's Cenex bulk truck was a familiar site to many in the area. He developed many friendships over the years and was known for putting others needs before his own. He was the "go-to" guy to get things done, always lending to help out, no matter the day or time. He was a familiar sight at the Turtle Lake Hospital in the evenings as a faithful visitor to family and friends. Mike was a lifetime member of the Turtle Lake Volunteer Fire Department, including four years as fire chief. He also served on the Turtle Lake City Commission, Library Board and Cemetery Board. It was not uncommon for Mike to work from sunrise until sundown or spend his "day off" fixing tractor tires, splicing belts, or delivering fuel to a farmer stranded in the field. He spent vacations and time off helping numerous farmers in the McClusky & Turtle Lake areas. He was always a farm boy at heart and loved driving the countryside, checking on crops and enjoying the scenery. It was likely the many years on gravel roads that led him to refer to his cancer treatments as "just another bump in the road, just wish there weren't so many of them." Mike retired from Cenex in December 2008. Mike was a very talented woodworker and created many items over the years – from numerous woodworking projects at the church to children's bear chairs. He spent countless hours tinkering in the shop making sawdust and enjoying happy hour (nap time) out in "the shack" up until the day he died.

He will be missed by his wife, Aileen, Turtle Lake; two daughters, Lynn (Rick) Schwalk, Turtle Lake, and Beth (D.) Krause, Hazen; four grandchildren, Ethan and Erin, Grant and Trevor; his mother, Ida Erdmann, Denhoff; his brothers, Richard, Baldwin, Jerry (Sue), McIntosh, MN, Steve (Vonnie), McClusky, and Bill (Kim), Bismarck; his sister-in-law, Rosemary (Burdette) Morrison, Robinson; six nephews & five nieces; many friends made across the miles, and his "pain in the butt cat, Peanut".

He was preceded in death by his father; mother-in-law and father-in-law; one sister-in-law and two nieces.

He leaves us remembering "somebody always has it worse." In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Turtle Lake Fire Department, C/O Tim Larson, PO Box 602, Turtle Lake, ND 58575.