John Muth, age 72, of Hettinger, ND, passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at the Rapid City Hospice House in Rapid City, SD.
A rosary/vigil service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hettinger, ND.
Mass of Christian Burial for John will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2024 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hettinger, ND. Burial will follow in the Hettinger Cemetery.
John V. Muth was born on January 25, 1952, in Hettinger, ND. He was the youngest of four children born to Jennie (Nagel) and Joe Muth.
John spent much of his childhood at his family’s plumbing shop. When John was 13, his father was tragically killed in a ditch cave-in. After the accident John and his mother, Jennie, had a special bond as she raised him herself.
John graduated in 1971 from Hettinger High School. He followed in his father’s footsteps by attending North Dakota State College of Science for plumbing. He graduated in 1972.
After graduation, John returned to Hettinger to work for Health Plumbing and Heating. In 1979, John went on his own and re-established Muth Plumbing & Heating. John worked until the day he was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma brain tumor. John took extraordinary pride in serving the community and the surrounding area. He worked on the coldest days to ensure his customers had heat.
John met the love of his life, Sandy, at a young age. They grew up together and dated in high school. They married on November 4, 1972. In 1974, they were blessed with their son, Justin and in 1977 they were blessed with their daughter, Jennifer. John and Sandy had a wonderful life together, with many adventures. They spent every weekend in the summer at Shadehill Lake, teaching countless kids how to waterski. John loved to cruise on his pontoon.
John loved to volunteer time for the benefit of his community. He was instrumental in modernizing the Golf Course, building the Hettinger Movie Theatre, and restoring the Grainery. John proudly served on the Hettinger Volunteer Fire Department for 38 years. As written in his father’s obituary in1965, but very relevant to John’s life as well, “Mr. Muth was very much liked and respected by the people in the area and did much in his life to gain the admiration of friends and businessmen. He will be missed by many.”
John was proceeded in death by his parents, Joe and Jennie Muth, brother and sister-in-law Jim and Sharon Muth, brother-in-law Gary Huber, Sister JoAnn Warren, niece Taelor Anderson, nephews Ron Arens, Robert Huber, Aiden Venner, mother and father-in-law John and Marcella Senn.
He is survived by wife Sandy, son Justin (Jill) Muth, daughter Jennifer (Josh) Schmaltz and grandchildren Jaxson, Myles, Ava, Christian and Ben Also survived by sister Patricia (Dave) Wanner, brother-in-law Richard Warren II, sister-in-law Sharlon Rathjen, brother in law John Charles Senn, sister in law Melody (Rodney) Zimmerman, brother in law Steven (Kaye) Senn, sister in law Mischelle (Darian) Reede and numerous nieces and nephews. John is also survived by his five mistresses (cars) which he gifted to his grandchildren. The 1940 Chevy he purchased in High School for $40 has been gifted to Jaxson. His 1963 Mercury Comet, a gift from Sandy, will go to Myles. Ava will receive his 1994 Mustang convertible. He gifted his 1901 kit car, that he always wanted, to Christian. Ben has been gifted the 1954 original Muth Plumbing & Heating Panel drove by Grandpa Joe.
The entire Muth Family wants to thank John’s Coffee Crowd. He looked forward to spending his mornings and afternoons with you, which allowed him to live with his tumor for as long as he did.
To Pops- our Superman!
