Darrel Dean Buchholz, "Tricky Dick", 82, of Lehr, N.D. passed away on April 9, 2025, at the WishekCommunity Hospital, Wishek, N.D. In sickness and in health his wife Violet loved and cared for him in his battle with cancer until the very end. With one final hug he closed his eyes for the last time and passed on to the other side of glory. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 10:30 am at Lehr Community Church. Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 15, 2025 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at Feist Funeral Home, Wishek. Burial will take place at the Lehr Cemetery.

Darrel was born to Emanuel and Lydia (Schweigert) Buchholz on March 9, 1943 on their family farm northeast of Lehr in Logan County. He had two sisters and five brothers. He always joked he had two and one half dozen kids in his family! Growing up he attended country school through the eighth grade. They would walk one half mile to school in all kinds of weather. Since German was his first language, he had to learn to read and speak English. Being the only kid in his class, he always joked he was the smartest one! He said he was smart enough that he could have been president, but his teacher would always tell him, "Dick, don't get so smart!"

When he was 18 he met his favorite redhead, Violet Kramlich, while roller skating in Kulm. She fell for his crystal blue eyes and blonde curls. On May 1, 1964 they were married at the United Methodist Church in Kulm. They resided on the Buchholz Family Homestead raising crops, livestock and their four children. In 1981, they purchased the homestead from Darrel's parents, becoming the third generation to farm it.

Darrel had many jobs throughout his lifetime. His first job off the farm was working at the Rapid City Missile Base for three months doing maintenance and cleaning in the missile silos. His other jobs included laboring in the sugar beet fields of Harden, M.T., being a hired farm hand for Elledhor Irion, and other local farmers, along with custom spraying and combining for neighbors. He also worked road construction and assisted local carpenters when they needed help. Perhaps the most interesting was when he was a jockey for his dad, and others, riding racehorses at racetracks across North Dakota. Darrel was a member of the Lehr Wildlife Club for 65 years, since he was 17 years old; Napoleon FSA Committee Member for three years; and in November 2024, in a humble display of his faith in Jesus Christ, he was baptized and became a member of Lehr Community Church.

Aside from his love of farming, Tricky Dick's hobbies included hunting for deer and gophers and fishing with Violet, his friends and his family. But his greatest joy was his kids and grandkids. "Grandpa Tricky" will always be remembered for his kind nature, always being up for a card game of Pitch, cracking jokes, his patience while working cattle and singing "You are my Sunshine" in the old blue pickup while checking cows. He was so proud of his kids and their hard work ethic. He was the best person to watch a funny movie with and sometimes would belly-laugh so hard that everyone had tears in their eyes!

He also loved children. Many times, he would come in dirty from the field and lay on the floor to play or let the kids climb on his lap to tease them or take a nap with him. He loved to play the harmonica for his family and watching each generation try to learn it. He enjoyed chocolate, fireworks, cold red apples and checking out new butcher shops to sample their sausage, meat and pepper sticks. He was the family historian, sharing old stories of Grandpa Emanuel and Grandma Lydia, stories about their German from Russian heritage and of when they settled in North Dakota.

Darrel was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Leo, Lawrence, Jerry and sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Kenny Klettke; sister-in-law Arlene Buchholz and grandson Jordy Buchholz.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Violet; their children Jeffrey (Naomi) Buchholz, Crete, N.D.; Vickie (Gene) Rudolph, Fredonia, N.D.; Todd (Jane) Buchholz, Lehr, N.D.; and Julie (Wes) Bower, Buffalo, M.N.; 14 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren;14 great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Hjelmhaugh; brothers, Ralph Buchholz and Rodney (Ardella) Buchholz; sisters-in-law Prudi Buchholz, Shirley Buchholz and Marlene Buchholz; and many nieces and nephews.