Deacon Carl Orthman, 76, Valley City, N.D. passed away at his home while under the care of his family and CHI Health at Home and Hospice on Aug. 23, 2019.  

A funeral mass was held on Thursday, Aug. 29, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Valley City, N.D. Visitation, Rosary and prayer services were at the church on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Burial was in St. Catherine Cemetery in Valley City, N.D. A memorial mass will be celebrated in Lemmon, S.D., at a later date.

Carl Martin Orthman III was born in Forsyth, Mont. to Carl and Ruby (Ledbetter) Orthman on Dec. 15, 1942.  The family moved to Kinsey, Mont. in 1947 where he attended country school until the eighth grade. In 1960, he graduated from high school at Custer County High School in Miles City, Mont. Carl farmed with his father and brother for 13 years on the Kinsey Farm.  He raised purebred Columbia sheep that won many awards at shows. He served in the Army Reserve at Miles City for eight years after completing training at Fort Ord, Calif.

In 1977, he graduated with his Associates Degree in Nursing from Miles Community College.  While attending school, he met Nancy Dix and they were married on Aug. 26, 1977, at Cando, N.D. He worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fargo, N.D. until 1980, when he began nurse practitioner school at UND in Grand Forks, N.D. In 1981, he moved to Woonsocket and worked at Tri-County Clinic as a NA/PA.  After moving to Lemmon in 1985, he worked for Five Counties Hospital and West River Health Services in Hettinger, N.D. serving in many rural clinics.  

In 1997, Carl was named Rural Health Care PA of the year by the American Academy of Physicians Assistants. In 2005, he moved to Valley City, N.D. and was a Physician Assistant in the Emergency Room at Mercy Hospital until he retired.

Carl was ordained a permanent Deacon on July 2, 1993, by Bishop Charles Chaput at St. Mary’s Church in Lemmon.  He graduated from Mount Marty College in Yankton in 2000 with his Masters Degree in Pastoral Ministry. He taught lay ministry class in the Rapid City diocese. He taught RCIA classes for over 25 years.He was active in retreats and a weekly class at James River Correctional Center in Jamestown, N.D. Carl was always supportive of Catholic Education and a member of REACH. He served on the Lemmon School Board for 12 years, six as president.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Cursillo.

Carl was a man of many interests and hobbies. He enjoyed working with his lawn and garden. He enjoyed traveling on religious pilgrimages to Mexico, Canada, and Rome.  He was always reading and learning. He ran and participated in triathlons when he was younger.  He enjoyed camping, canoeing, woodworking and following the Minnesota Vikings and Twins as well as VCSU and NDSU teams.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Chris (Denise) Orthman of Valley City, N.D.; daughters, Beth (Serena Olsen) Orthman of Bismarck, N.D. and Tosha Orthman of Valley City, N.D.; brother, Ivan (Donna) Orthman of Miles City, Mont.; four grandchildren; in-laws, Charles and Edie Dix of Cando, N.D., Pat (Ana) Dix of Rock Spring, Wyo., and David (Maria) Dix of Cando N.D.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Mark Dix.