Joseph Lemer, 87, Drake, passed away Saturday, September 16, 2017 at CHI-St. Alexius Health in Bismarck. His funeral will be held Saturday, September 23 at 10:30 A. M. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Drake with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday from 5 P. M. until 7 P. M. followed by a 7 P. M. prayer service, all at the church. Arrangements with Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home of Drake.

Joseph Lemer, son of John M. And Dorothy (Volk) Lemer, was born February 21, 1930 on the family farm north of Drake where he grew up and attended a nearby country school. He began working on the family farm with his father at an early age.

On April 9, 1955, he was married to Delores Martwick in Towner. They made their home on different farms over the years before settling on a farm west of Drake where they farmed and ranched. In 1994 they moved into Drake and Joe continued to help his son Jay with the farming operation as long as he was able.

Joe was a member of the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church of Drake. He enjoyed fishing, playing pinochle and deer hunting with his sons and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Delores; 4 sons, Joel (Linda) of Carrington, Kevin (Mary) of Bismarck, Lonnie (Trish) of Bismarck and Jay (friend Laura Landry) of Drake; 7 grandchildren, Kerry & Jerid Lemer, Dustin Lemer, Brandt Lemer, Alisha Greenberg, Colette Wagner and Jessica Olheiser; and 10 great-grandchildren, Trey Lemer, Maggie, Molly & Rocco Greenberg, Ellie Rose & Abigail Wagner, Domenik & Kapri Lemer and Nicolette & Emaryllis Lemer. Joe loved all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are 2 brothers, Edward of Drake and Lawrence (Katherine) of Harvey; 4 sisters, Magdalena Sander of Rugby, Rosemary (Franklin) Martens of Ross, Dorothy Reiger of Williston and Margaret (Michael) White of Waite Park, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; and 5 brothers, Dennis, Mike, Johnny, Anthony and Peter.