Neil Herman Pietsch, 54, 14600 30th St. S.W. - Minot died on Sunday, October 8, 2006, in a Minot hospital.

Neil was born on August 25, 1952, in Minot, to Herman and Marvel (Jylen) Pietsch. He was raised in Minot until 1964; then, on the family farm in the South Prairie area of Ward County near Minot. He graduated from Minot High School in 1971. Neil was employed at various jobs in Minot including City Bakery and the Pietsch families' farms prior to beginning employment in the nutrition medicine department at the Minot Air Force Base Hospital in 1980. He was employed there until he was forced to retire in 1995 due to a medical disability.

Neil was a member of Saron Lutheran Church where he served as an usher. He was a life member of the American Association of Independent Investors and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), National Association of Railroad Passengers, ND Farmers Union and the Alliance for the Mentally Ill. His hobbies included reading, especially the Wall Street Journal and traveling. He was proud to have visited all fifty states by the age of fifty. He was also well known in the South Prairie area for his collection and recycling efforts and his long distance walking and he especially enjoyed gardening. He was especially generous with special gifts for all of his relatives at Christmas.

Neil's family includes his mother Marvel Pietsch of rural Minot; sister: Jean (Don) Burke of Minot; brothers: John (JoAnne) Pietsch of rural Minot and Tim (Chris) Pietsch of Minot, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Neil was preceded in death by his father and an infant sister Mary Jo.

Funeral Service: Thursday, October 12, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. in Saron Lutheran Church - rural Minot.
Interment will be Saron Lutheran Church Cemetery - rural Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Saron Lutheran Church, Souris Valley Humane Society or Second Story.