**BEN WILLHAUS The funeral for Ben Willhaus, 71, Hecla, was held Saturday, August 29, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Hecla, with Pastor Jay Haaland officiating. Burial was at Hecla Cemetery near Hecla. Dahlstrom Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. He died August 25, , 2009 at Oakes Community Hospital in Oakes, ND. Bernd Manfried Klaus Bohm, son of Joseph Ehrsmann and Hedwig Bohm was born April 4, 1938 in Berlin, Germany. On Thanksgiving Day 1952, at the age of 14, Bernd came to the United States to help on the Willhaus farm, and he made his home with Broer and Anna (Siefkes) Willhaus. He was later adopted by Broer and Anna, and changed his name to Ben Klaus Willhaus. He attended rural school near Hecla in the winter months, and continued to help farm with Broer during the other months. He was united in marriage to MaryLou Winburn July 14, 1981 at Aberdeen. Ben farmed his entire life until becoming ill. Survivors include; MaryLou Willhaus, Robin (Kim) Freeland, Sara (Amged) Freeland, Braedon Seelhorst, a half sister, Olive Reader of England. He was preceded in death by a son and both his birth parents and his adoptive parents. An on-line guestbook may be signed at www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com
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