John H. Niemi, 86, of Bowman, North Dakota, formerly of Buffalo, South Dakota passed away peacefully on July 7, 2011. A family and friends service will be held Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at Southwest Healthcare Services Long Term Care Center Chapel. Funeral services for John will be held Monday, July 11, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Grand River Lutheran Church, Buffalo, SD. Reverend Dana Lockhart and Reverend Galen Strand will officiate. Burial will follow at the Cave Hills Cemetery, Rural Buffalo, SD.
John H. Niemi was born September 19, 1924 in Harding County, South Dakota to August and Ida (Tilus) Niemi.
John achieved an eighth grade certificate at the Penttila Country School. He was a member of the Cave Hills Lutheran Church and served as treasurer for fifty-eight years. Later, John became a member of the Grand River Lutheran Church.
John married Betty Johnson October 9, 1955, and they ranched north of Buffalo. John moved to Southwest Healthcare Services Long Term Care Center in Bowman, North Dakota on April 10, 2008.
John is survived by his wife, Betty, of Buffalo, SD, three daughters, Debra Niemi, Spearfish, SD, Dorene (Kelly) Lorge, Bowman, ND and Diane (Ross) Johnson, Helena, MT; one son, David (Roxie) Niemi, Buffalo, SD; and special cousins, Tyyne Tilus, Buffalo, SD and Carl Tilus, Mansfield, OH. John was preceded in death by an infant daughter, an infant sister, his parents and two foster brothers, Henry Kuoppala and Swanie Kuoppala.
Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.