Warren Andrew Rockenbach, 92, of Washburn, formerly of rural Fort Clark, ND, died June 8, 2014 at Sanford Health Sunset Drive Continuing Care Center in Mandan, where he had resided since early December of 2013.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 13 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Hazen, with the Rev. Kirk L. Peters officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Goetz Funeral Home, Washburn, and continues one hour prior to service at the church.

Warren was born March 19, 1922 in Walton, Nebraska. He graduated from Waverly High School in 1940. Growing up on a family farm, he learned the values of hard work and thrift at an early age, working with horses and wagons in a bygone era. While still a teenager, he began coming to North Dakota to work the fields for his uncle, Arthur Daub of Fort Clark. After two years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he continued to go back and forth from North Dakota to Nebraska for three years before saving enough money to purchase his first half-section of land in Oliver County. He remained a farmer, increasing his acreage over the decades, until his retirement in 1985.

He married Verna Mae Fifer on November 23, 1952 in Lincoln, Nebraska and they settled into the Sears Roebuck farm home that Warren constructed, with the couple living in the basement as the home was built. Together they lived on the farm until her death on March 3, 1989.

Warren was very active in agricultural and civic affairs and was especially proud of his many years of service on the Oliver-Mercer Electric Board of Directors. He also served as president of the Oliver County Livestock and Crops Association; president of the Oliver County Resources Management Advisory Committee; ND State Seed Farm Advisory board; 4-H leader; local school board member; and Oliver County Special Education board member. He received many awards through the years for his agricultural leadership.

Warren's farming heritage served him well in retirement, as he enjoyed cultivating his large garden on the farm until moving to Washburn in 2013. For 32 years, he spent his winters in Pharr, Tex., where he formed a special bond with his fellow Holiday Village residents. He prided himself on making 19 trips to Osaka, Japan to visit his son Bill and family, making his last trip in 2012 at the age of 90. He enjoyed spending his summers on the farm and visiting his daughter Ruth and family in Washburn.

He is survived by his son, Bill (Taeko) Rockenbach, Osaka, Japan; daughter, Ruth (David) Borlaug, Washburn; 4 grandchildren, Ray and Joe Rockenbach of Osaka, Japan; Nicolette Borlaug, Bismarck and Cassandra Borlaug, Fargo; sister, Valdarie (Ray) Swanson, San Diego, Calif.; and brother, Ira (Margie) Rockenbach, Mount Saint Francis, Indiana; Other survivors include in-laws, John and Helen Fifer, Omaha, Neb.; Marjorie Brown, Sarasota, Fla.; and Maxine Fifer, Tucson, Ariz.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Warren loved his family and was especially proud of his grandchildren. Ray received his master's degrees in aerospace engineering and is enrolled in a doctoral program at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. He is currently participating in an internship in Belgium; Joe has received his civil engineering degree and is in a master's program at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan; Nicolette received her degree in communications from the University of Mary and is the marketing director of the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, Washburn; and Cassandra received her master's degree in occupational therapy from the University of Mary and is an occupational therapist with Pediatric Therapy Partners, Fargo.

Warren is preceded in death by his wife Verna; parents Anna and William Rockenbach; and 5 brothers Alfred, Chester, Verlyn, LaVern, and Marlyn Rockenbach.

Memorials are suggested to St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Hazen; Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, Washburn; Dakota Zoo, Bismarck; First Lutheran Church, Washburn; or a charity of your choice.