Charles Bata

Charles E. Bata, 90, of Langdon, ND, passed away June 21, 2026, at Towner County Living Center in Cando, ND.

Charles was born September 20, 1935, in Elgin Township near Langdon, ND, to Joseph and Alice (Walsh) Bata. He grew up in the Langdon area and graduated from St. Alphonsus in 1953. Charles dated the “little neighbor girl” for six months and then married Patricia Berger on September 19, 1959, at St. Alphonsus Church in Langdon. They made their home and raised their five children northwest of Langdon on the family farm in Elgin Township and lived on that same section of land until Charles retired.

Charles started farming in 1953 after his father, Joe (JI), passed away. He farmed by himself until 1987 when he was joined by his son, Randy. They were joined by Randy’s son, Reily, in 2008, which fulfilled Charles’s dream of having his boys farm with him. Charles’s last crop was in 2011, totaling 59 years of tilling and harvesting the land he loved. He was a proud conservationist in his tending of the soil and trees that were on his land. He always said that he didn’t own the land; God did. He rented it and was responsible for taking care of all that was on it.

Charles was a 4th degree knight and belonged to the Knights of Columbus and St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. He was a SAS school board member for eight years, a member of the Cavalier County Crop Improvement board, Durum Growers Association, and an Elgin Twp. Board member. He was proud to receive the Cavalier County Conservation Award in 1959.

Surviving Charles are his wife of 66 years, Patricia, of Langdon, ND; children: Ruth (Chris) Zacher of Osage, MN, Dan Bata of New Town, ND, Randy (Janelle) Bata of Langdon, ND, and Cheri (Charles) Griffin of Pratt, KS; grandchildren: Remington Zacher, Harrison Zacher, Madeleinne (Tyler) Fern, Reily (Stephanie) Bata, Raquel (Leo) Colling, Lexi Bata, Ema Wood, Jamie (Avery) Hitt; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Michael; and brothers: David, Lyle, and Judd.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Langdon, ND. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service & Rosary on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Brooks Funeral Home in Langdon and for one hour prior to service time at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Langdon.