Obituary: Edwin Haman

Edwin Haman

New Rockford, N.D.

Edwin "Ed" John Haman, 71, passed into eternal life on April 29, 2024, from complications after a heart attack.

Ed's visitation was held Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. with a Rosary service at 6:30 p.m., followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m., all at St. John's Catholic Church, New Rockford. A funeral mass was held Monday, May 6, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church, New Rockford with burial following at St. John's Catholic Cemetery. Fr. Reese Weber and Fr. Greg Haman officiated the service with special music by pianist Heather Klocke and vocalists Annamaria Salazar and Rikka Gudmunson. Honorary bearers were Arthur Allmaras, Carter Richter, Donny Huber, Anthony Bush, Bob Haley and Dale Rosenberg.

Ed was born on Oct. 19, 1952, to Adam and Juliana (Kuntz) Haman, the 11th of what would be 12 total children. They were a hard-working Catholic farm family, but as the youngest son in the family to parents who had already had ten children, Ed learned how to get away with things to have his fun, while still keeping everyone's affection. His siblings – as many as there were – were lifelong friends of Ed, and he would talk with them frequently.

After graduating from St. James High School in 1970, he tried his hand at college but eventually returned to New Rockford to begin work. He moved in with his buddy, Carter Richter. He always appreciated a local businessman from the time, who trusted Ed with his first line of credit to buy some dishes and furniture.

He married JoAnn Gaffrey in 1978, and together had three sons, Clinton, Gregory and Mitchell. During that time, Ed found his niche, probably molded as the youngest son in his family, as a salesman. He sold parts for farm equipment and cattle feed in Bismarck and New Rockford, and later sold machinery at Warren Implement in Sheyenne, alongside his good friend, Dean Warren.

His heart was with cattle, however, and the family settled on a ranch east of New Rockford, where Ed began his own herd. In 1989, he took over the job left vacant at the death of his friend and mentor in the cattle business, Cliff Dablow, at the Wishek Livestock Market in Wishek, N.D. The ranch became a busy place on Thursdays and Fridays when it transformed into a shipping yard for cattlemen in the area to truck their cattle down for the Saturday sale.

Ed and JoAnn separated in 1996. After a number of years, the ranch was sold and Ed worked various jobs, spending a few years again at Warren Implement and at the Eddy County Soil Conservation district, planting shelterbelts and cover crops for farmers in the area. He always found jobs that could give him the space to balance his gift of gab with time to himself to think about the world. He eventually settled on a small ranch on the west edge of New Rockford, where he could have just as many sheep, cattle, horses, dogs or cats as he wanted at any given time. He was an avid blood donor. He boasted about having given blood 42 times, and loved receiving messages when his blood donation was used.

Ed leaves behind many who will miss him, friends, family and professional acquaintances. He is survived by his sons, Clinton, Fr. Greg and Mitchell, and granddaughter, Addysen. He is also survived by ten siblings, LeRoy (Christine), Loraine Bourdeau, Joe, Doris Gross, Ray, Irene (Larry) Valstad, Angela Charpentier, Rita, Donna (Myron) Berglund and Barb (Tim) LaBarr; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Juliana; one brother, Duain; a nephew, Damian; and several in-laws.

Ed passed away with the sacraments of the Church and his eldest son by his side. He will long be fondly remembered.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of New Rockford and Carrington, N.D.