Irwin C. Hartje

Irwin C. Hartje, 81 of Rapid City, SD and formerly of Hensel, ND died Saturday, December 10, 2005, at his home after a long fight with cancer. Funeral service will be held Friday, December 16, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Brigid of Ireland Catholic Church, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 15th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Jensen-Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Burial in the St. Brigid's Catholic Cemetery.
Irwin was born August 22, 1924, at Hensel, ND to Clarence and Lillian (Howell) Hartje. He attended elementary and high school in Hensel. Joining the Army in 1943, he served his country with the 3rd Armored during World War II.
On November 29, 1945, he married Isabel Longtin. They lived in Grand Forks and Hoople where he worked in grocery stores. In 1947, they returned to Hensel and took over the family grocery business. Along with the grocery store he became Postmaster in Hensel in 1958, until his retirement in 1986. Irwin and Isabel then moved to Arizona and lived there until 2001, when they moved to Rapid City.
Survivors include his wife Isabel and six children, Danne (Zelda) Hartje , Cavalier, ND, Marcia (Doug) Hall, Grand Forks, ND, Robert (Mary) Hartje, Rapid City, SD, Tracy (Mark) Seitz, Jamestown, ND, John (Lynn) Hartje, Spearfish, SD, and Roxan (Mike) Kautz, Phoenix, AZ; 15 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; brother, Donald Hartje, Grand Forks, ND.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Laverne and Glenn Hartje.
Celebrant: Deacon Jim Carpenter