The Bismarck Tribune: Wednesday; March 28, 2001
Former priest remembered for his work at home for youth
KAREN HERZOG, Bismarck Tribune
The Rev. William Fahnlander, 80, longtime superintendent of Home on the Range for at-risk youth at Sentinel Butte, has died.
Fahnlander, who retired in 1988 after 28 years as superintendent of the facility, which was then known as Home on the Range for Boys but has since gone co-ed, died Tuesday at his home in Bismarck.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan. Fahnlander will be buried at Father Cassedy Hill at the ranch, alongside Home on the Range's founder, Father Elwood Cassedy, said Patrick Petermann, executive director of Home on the Range, "a most appropriate resting place for Father Bill."
A native of Minot, Fahnlander was ordained in 1946. He was principal of St. Leo's High School until 1950, when he was assigned by the bishop of the western North Dakota Catholic Diocese to serve Medora and Sentinel Butte. He began his tenure at Home on the Range in 1955 as assistant superintendent to Cassedy. Home on the Range is now licensed for 79 youth -- 59 boys and 20 girls, Petermann said.
After his retirement from the priesthood in 1991, he helped with parish work at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mandan, retiring to Emmaus Place in Bismarck in 1996.
When Fahnlander was 7, his father died unexpectedly; he felt that the tragedy of his own fatherless boyhood probably helped him to prepare for his work with the troubled boys of Home on the Range.
"It shows you just how God can write straight with broken lines," he once said.
"He stood for Home on the Range," said Petermann. "He was a father figure, a counselor, a shoulder to lean on, all those things.
"Every time we went to a convention or conference, people just flocked to him. They wanted a hug, to shake his hand. It was neat to see. I wish I had more years to be around that. He was a big supporter for me. He will be sadly missed."
Fahnlander was very caring, Petermann said. "He was always wondering how you were doing."
"He was so well-known and well-liked. I can't say enough good about him," said Tom Tescher of Medora, a retired rancher who knew Fahnlander for 30 years, through Home on the Range, as a parish priest, and especially as the matchmaker for the facility's longtime annual rodeo. "He got the people together, flew to places like Cheyenne, getting cowboys to come for the matched saddle bronc riding."
A Father Fahnlander Endowment was set up before his death, Petermann said. Those wishing to give to that endowment may do so by contacting Home on the Range at Sentinel Butte.
A vigil service is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Christ the King in Mandan. The funeral liturgy is also at Christ the King at 11 a.m. Friday.
Former priest remembered for his work at home for youth
KAREN HERZOG, Bismarck Tribune
The Rev. William Fahnlander, 80, longtime superintendent of Home on the Range for at-risk youth at Sentinel Butte, has died.
Fahnlander, who retired in 1988 after 28 years as superintendent of the facility, which was then known as Home on the Range for Boys but has since gone co-ed, died Tuesday at his home in Bismarck.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan. Fahnlander will be buried at Father Cassedy Hill at the ranch, alongside Home on the Range's founder, Father Elwood Cassedy, said Patrick Petermann, executive director of Home on the Range, "a most appropriate resting place for Father Bill."
A native of Minot, Fahnlander was ordained in 1946. He was principal of St. Leo's High School until 1950, when he was assigned by the bishop of the western North Dakota Catholic Diocese to serve Medora and Sentinel Butte. He began his tenure at Home on the Range in 1955 as assistant superintendent to Cassedy. Home on the Range is now licensed for 79 youth -- 59 boys and 20 girls, Petermann said.
After his retirement from the priesthood in 1991, he helped with parish work at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mandan, retiring to Emmaus Place in Bismarck in 1996.
When Fahnlander was 7, his father died unexpectedly; he felt that the tragedy of his own fatherless boyhood probably helped him to prepare for his work with the troubled boys of Home on the Range.
"It shows you just how God can write straight with broken lines," he once said.
"He stood for Home on the Range," said Petermann. "He was a father figure, a counselor, a shoulder to lean on, all those things.
"Every time we went to a convention or conference, people just flocked to him. They wanted a hug, to shake his hand. It was neat to see. I wish I had more years to be around that. He was a big supporter for me. He will be sadly missed."
Fahnlander was very caring, Petermann said. "He was always wondering how you were doing."
"He was so well-known and well-liked. I can't say enough good about him," said Tom Tescher of Medora, a retired rancher who knew Fahnlander for 30 years, through Home on the Range, as a parish priest, and especially as the matchmaker for the facility's longtime annual rodeo. "He got the people together, flew to places like Cheyenne, getting cowboys to come for the matched saddle bronc riding."
A Father Fahnlander Endowment was set up before his death, Petermann said. Those wishing to give to that endowment may do so by contacting Home on the Range at Sentinel Butte.
A vigil service is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Christ the King in Mandan. The funeral liturgy is also at Christ the King at 11 a.m. Friday.
The Bismarck Tribune: Wednesday; March 28, 2001
Former priest remembered for his work at home for youth
KAREN HERZOG, Bismarck Tribune
The Rev. William Fahnlander, 80, longtime superintendent of Home on the Range for at-risk youth at Sentinel Butte, has died.
Fahnlander, who retired in 1988 after 28 years as superintendent of the facility, which was then known as Home on the Range for Boys but has since gone co-ed, died Tuesday at his home in Bismarck.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan. Fahnlander will be buried at Father Cassedy Hill at the ranch, alongside Home on the Range's founder, Father Elwood Cassedy, said Patrick Petermann, executive director of Home on the Range, "a most appropriate resting place for Father Bill."
A native of Minot, Fahnlander was ordained in 1946. He was principal of St. Leo's High School until 1950, when he was assigned by the bishop of the western North Dakota Catholic Diocese to serve Medora and Sentinel Butte. He began his tenure at Home on the Range in 1955 as assistant superintendent to Cassedy. Home on the Range is now licensed for 79 youth -- 59 boys and 20 girls, Petermann said.
After his retirement from the priesthood in 1991, he helped with parish work at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mandan, retiring to Emmaus Place in Bismarck in 1996.
When Fahnlander was 7, his father died unexpectedly; he felt that the tragedy of his own fatherless boyhood probably helped him to prepare for his work with the troubled boys of Home on the Range.
"It shows you just how God can write straight with broken lines," he once said.
"He stood for Home on the Range," said Petermann. "He was a father figure, a counselor, a shoulder to lean on, all those things.
"Every time we went to a convention or conference, people just flocked to him. They wanted a hug, to shake his hand. It was neat to see. I wish I had more years to be around that. He was a big supporter for me. He will be sadly missed."
Fahnlander was very caring, Petermann said. "He was always wondering how you were doing."
"He was so well-known and well-liked. I can't say enough good about him," said Tom Tescher of Medora, a retired rancher who knew Fahnlander for 30 years, through Home on the Range, as a parish priest, and especially as the matchmaker for the facility's longtime annual rodeo. "He got the people together, flew to places like Cheyenne, getting cowboys to come for the matched saddle bronc riding."
A Father Fahnlander Endowment was set up before his death, Petermann said. Those wishing to give to that endowment may do so by contacting Home on the Range at Sentinel Butte.
A vigil service is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Christ the King in Mandan. The funeral liturgy is also at Christ the King at 11 a.m. Friday.
Former priest remembered for his work at home for youth
KAREN HERZOG, Bismarck Tribune
The Rev. William Fahnlander, 80, longtime superintendent of Home on the Range for at-risk youth at Sentinel Butte, has died.
Fahnlander, who retired in 1988 after 28 years as superintendent of the facility, which was then known as Home on the Range for Boys but has since gone co-ed, died Tuesday at his home in Bismarck.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan. Fahnlander will be buried at Father Cassedy Hill at the ranch, alongside Home on the Range's founder, Father Elwood Cassedy, said Patrick Petermann, executive director of Home on the Range, "a most appropriate resting place for Father Bill."
A native of Minot, Fahnlander was ordained in 1946. He was principal of St. Leo's High School until 1950, when he was assigned by the bishop of the western North Dakota Catholic Diocese to serve Medora and Sentinel Butte. He began his tenure at Home on the Range in 1955 as assistant superintendent to Cassedy. Home on the Range is now licensed for 79 youth -- 59 boys and 20 girls, Petermann said.
After his retirement from the priesthood in 1991, he helped with parish work at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mandan, retiring to Emmaus Place in Bismarck in 1996.
When Fahnlander was 7, his father died unexpectedly; he felt that the tragedy of his own fatherless boyhood probably helped him to prepare for his work with the troubled boys of Home on the Range.
"It shows you just how God can write straight with broken lines," he once said.
"He stood for Home on the Range," said Petermann. "He was a father figure, a counselor, a shoulder to lean on, all those things.
"Every time we went to a convention or conference, people just flocked to him. They wanted a hug, to shake his hand. It was neat to see. I wish I had more years to be around that. He was a big supporter for me. He will be sadly missed."
Fahnlander was very caring, Petermann said. "He was always wondering how you were doing."
"He was so well-known and well-liked. I can't say enough good about him," said Tom Tescher of Medora, a retired rancher who knew Fahnlander for 30 years, through Home on the Range, as a parish priest, and especially as the matchmaker for the facility's longtime annual rodeo. "He got the people together, flew to places like Cheyenne, getting cowboys to come for the matched saddle bronc riding."
A Father Fahnlander Endowment was set up before his death, Petermann said. Those wishing to give to that endowment may do so by contacting Home on the Range at Sentinel Butte.
A vigil service is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Christ the King in Mandan. The funeral liturgy is also at Christ the King at 11 a.m. Friday.
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