Bernhard A. "Bernie" Hadler, 82, longtime Minot resident and businessman, died Monday, July 23, 2007 in his home surrounded by his loving family.

Bernie was born December 23, 1924, at Arndt, ND, the son of Benjamin and Mabel (Jacques) Hadler. He was raised at Bisbee and Egeland, ND and graduated from Egeland High School in 1942. He attended North Dakota State University in Fargo for a year, prior to enlisting in the US Navy in 1943. He served his country during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. He returned to North Dakota where he was employed at his father's grain elevator in Arndt.

Bernie was united in marriage to Joan Gerrard on January 1, 1949 at Bisbee. He purchased his father's interest in the grain elevator in Arndt where they lived until they moved to Bisbee in 1959, where he also owned the Bisbee Grain Elevator and served the community as Mayor during the 1960's.

When the grain elevator was destroyed by fire in 1969, the family moved to Minot, where they purchased the Dairy Queen franchise eventually expanding into the Grand Forks and Williston communities. Throughout the years, Bernie and his family have continued to operate three DQ businesses in Minot as well as the Williston and Grand Forks stores. He was elected the first DMA Chair to represent local area Dairy Queens at the corporate level with International Dairy Queen and continued that position for 30 years. He visited all Dairy Queen stores in North Dakota and Montana while doing store inspections for Dairy Queen of ND/MT. He achieved his lifelong dream when he received his pilot's license at the age of 50 and enjoyed flying his plane for a number of years. He and Joan enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and abroad and attended nearly every national DQ Convention. They spent some winters in Florida and in later years, maintained a home in Cave Creek, Arizona. Joan died September 21, 2002.

Bernie attended Vincent United Methodist Church. He was also an active member of the Minot and Bisbee Curling Clubs. He was a member of the Minot Elks Lodge and Kiwanis Club. While he derived a great deal of pleasure from his work with his family in the Dairy Queen system, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He always found time for camping trips and lake outings with family, watching the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Vikings and in later years, putting puzzles together. In 38 years, he seldom missed morning and afternoon coffee including discussions of politics and local affairs with his many coffee buddies.

His loving family includes: Six daughters and their families: Linda (Patrick) Holien , Minot and their children, Rachel (Losson) Leonard, Beulah, ND and Alycia Holien, Minot; Andrea (Dan) Klingbeil and their children, Aaron, Adam and Seth, Minot; Beanie (Kent) Kaufman, Bismarck, and their children, Brock (Milagro), Bismarck and Kari (Jeremy) Johnson, Brainard, MN; JoAnn (Woody) Flaten, Grand Forks; Essie (Lorin) Wright and their children, Ashley Alexander and Layken, Williston; Becky (Kerry) Beechie and their children, Kelsey and Brooke, Minot; Four great grandchildren: Madison Leonard, Aidan Kaufman, Quinton Holien and Graadin Barkie; Brother: Jack (Caryl) Hadler, Bethesda, MD and Sister: Priscilla (Bill) Stark, Cave Creek, AZ and Brother-in-law: Jim Morgan, Las Vegas, NV; several nieces, nephews and cousins as well as a special friend, Cec Amundson of Warroad, MN.

Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, wife and sister, Laurel Morgan.

Funeral service : Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in Vincent United Methodist Church, Minot;
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot;
Visitation : Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot;
Memorials are preferred to the American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers and plants.