Lewis A Getz, a former outstanding athlete for the Rhame Pirates, tragically died on Tuesday.
Getz was born on April 19, 1936, to his parents, Oscar and Fern (Rue) Getz.
He attended grade school and high school in Rhame, ND, graduating from High School in 1954.
Later, he attended Dickinson State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
He also participated in basketball, football, and track for DSU and was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.
Lewis attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where he received his Master’s Degree in Education.
He started his teaching and coaching career in Scranton in 1959. One of his coaching highlights was competing in the annual basketball game against the Trenton Tigers team.
In the summers, Lewis coached Little League Baseball. He was very active in the American Legion post and held the office of Commander at Scranton, Beach, and Cando.
Outstanding Athlete And Coach Lewis A Getz Died At The Age Of 89
An outstanding athlete for the Rhame Pirates, Lewis A Getz, 89, took his last breath on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The cause of death has not been revealed yet.
A Dickinson State University graduate and former Kindergarten Teacher at Bowman County School, Jolene Hendrickx took to her official Facebook handle and mourned the tragic loss of Lewis. She wrote,
Truly one of the nicest man I have ever met. This great man gave me my first teaching job in Beach. He was kind and always encouraging. He made time for me when ever we saw each other and always made me feel so extra special! His smile and laughter were infectious. I owe my teaching career to Lewis as he gave me the chance to show people I could do it! Thank you Mr. Getz, you are the best! You will forever be my favorite administrator!!💖
Jolene Hendrickx
In the comment section, former lay leader at Bowman Methodist Church, Lynne Birdsall Reinhiller, also mourned the loss. She wrote,
What a fine man he was…ha always had time to visit and talk when ever Vernon and I would meet him. He will be missed.
Lynne Birdsall Reinhiller
Other close ones and relatives have also offered their heartfelt condolences and sent prayers to Lewis’s family to stay strong in this heartbreaking moment.
As per Lewis’s family, the funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Stevenson Funeral Home.
Burial will take place next week at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.
Lewis will always be remembered for his unforgettable contributions as an athlete at the Rhame Pirates and as a coach for Scranton. Rest in Heaven, Lewis A Getz.
Lewis A Getz Had Four Children With His Late Wife, LaVon Getz
Lewis A Getz married LaVon Getz on December 27, 1961, after dating for several years.
LaVon was born on January 11, 1942, in Bowman County, North Dakota, to Alvin and Leola (Sipma) Jensen.
She grew up and attended school in Scranton, graduating from high school in 1960.
She worked as a secretary at the Scranton Public School. After her husband returned from Lawton, Oklahoma, where Lewis was stationed in the U.S. Army, she worked for the First National Bank in Scranton and Bowman for many years.
Tragically, LaVon passed away peacefully in Dickinson, North Dakota, in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, from complications of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
The couple was blessed with two sons, Michael and Ellen Getz, and two daughters, Michelle and Keith Kovash.
Michelle studied at Minot State University and is a former literacy coach at Dickinson Public School. On the other hand, Lewis’s son, Ellen, is a speech-language pathologist at Dickinson Public School.
Michael and Keith have managed to stay out of the media spotlight, so little information is available about their personal lives.
Currently, they are mourning the tragic death of their supportive and devoted father, Lewis A Getz.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Between 1987 and 1990, Lewis was employed by Dakota Western Insurance & Investment Centers of America. He was the Superintendent of the Cando School System from 1990 to 1998 and retired from education in 1998.
- LaVon was employed by Satrom Travel and Tours in Bismarck as a Tour Manager, escorting groups on travel, which she enjoyed until her retirement. She worked for the Peterson Law Firm while living in Beach and later for Dakota Western Bank, a member of the Dakota 50 Club in Bowman.
- Lewis was always a very loyal Rhame Pirate, DSU Savage, and Blue Hawk fan.
- Lewis and LaVon had four grandchildren, Christopher, Kelsey, Macklynn, and Addilynn Kovash, all of Dickinson, North Dakota.
