Josephine "Jo" Marie (Schafer) Erhardt

Josephine Marie Erhardt, 87, of Center, North Dakota passed unexpectedly from this earthly life to her heavenly home on June 27, 2025. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CT on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at St. Martin Catholic Church, Center with Fr. Dennis Schafer and Fr. Stephen Folorunso officiating. Burial will follow at St. Martin Catholic Cemetery, Center.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM CT on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at St. Martin Catholic Church, Center, with a vigil service beginning at 7:00 PM CT.

Josephine “Jo” (Schafer) Erhardt was born August 7, 1937 at Flasher, ND to Valentine and Elizabeth (Jantzer) Schafer.  She attended first grade in Flasher and moved with her family to the Crown Butte area west of Mandan. Then the family moved to Mandan where she attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and graduated from Mandan High School.

Jo married Matt Erhardt of Center at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mandan on October 4, 1955.  They moved to the Erhardt family farm in January 1957, where they farmed and had a dairy operation for a while.

Jo was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church where she taught CCD for 14 years and was the church secretary for 25 years, retiring in 1999.  She also served on the local school board for nine years and the county election board for many years, working her way up to Inspector of precinct 1.  Jo will be remembered best for her years of sewing.  She made all of the suits and most of the shirts that her children wore during their years of playing in the family Erhardt Country Band. Most of the clothes worn by the girls to school and special occasions in their younger years were made by their mother.  Many weddings also had the bridesmaid and flower girls’ dresses made by Jo, and even one niece had her wedding dress sewn by “Aunt Josie”.  Making the special “Western Shirts” that were worn by her children and grandchildren was her greatest pleasure.  Her shining moment came when her grandson, Drew, could not find a thing to “fit” for his wedding and she made his Special Western Suit and Shirt.

Cooking/baking (especially buns, blachinda, struedel and German dough noodles), entertaining the “entire bunch” and playing cards was the highlight of her life.  Jo was always extremely delighted when the entire family could be together for every birthday, anniversary, holiday and special occasion.  Jo and her husband also belonged to two card clubs and spent many evenings playing cards with their friends.

Jo leaves behind her husband, Matt, of 69 years and their children: Matt Erhardt, Jr. (Joni Casey), Mark Erhardt, and Myron (Teck) Erhardt all of Center, Jalane Mann (Tom Traiser) of Mandan, Janet (Chuck) Alderin of Center, and Monte (Vicki) Erhardt of Hazen. Also left behind are 15 grandchildren: Drew (Alison) Erhardt; Tyler (Lindsey) Erhardt; Jenny (Shae) Brown; Dustin (Brittany) Erhardt; Dillon (Elizabeth) Erhardt; Lane Erhardt; Jared Mann; Marissa (Henry) Lau; Jaydin (Eddie) Underwood; Jordon (Jessie) Mann; Andrew (Chelsi) Alderin; Chelsey (Cody) Feist; Brian (Brandi) Alderin; Jacob (Braeton) Erhardt; and Joshua (DelRae) Erhardt.  Jo also leaves behind 32 great grandchildren: Ava, Claire, Natalie, Owen, Isaac, Oliver and Baby (due this Fall) Erhardt; Atlas Erhardt; Posie, Watson, and Miles Brown; Cooper, Carter and Parker Erhardt; Evelynn, Phoebe, Isaiah and Reese Erhardt; Hudson Lau; Brixtin Underwood; Brynlee and Everett Mann; Aria Alderin; Wylie Feist; Bennett, Brekken, BraeLynn, Bella and Bronx Alderin; Brea, Brenna and Jaxton Erhardt. Jo also leaves behind step-brothers David, Jim (Jean) & George “Butch” (Jan) Wetsch; brothers-in-law Art (Doreen) Hellman, Kasper (Linda) Erhardt, and Chris Silbernagel; sisters-in-law Shirley Erhardt and Vivian Erhardt, along with one aunt, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents; her infant brother Raymond; her sisters Johanna (Marvin) Olson, Edith (James) Hellman, and Pauline Hellman; her step-mother Veronica Schafer; son-in-law Byron Mann; great grandchildren Angel Marie and Gabriel Erhardt; and Willow Feist; parents-in-law Kasper & Lokraze Erhardt; brothers-in-law Lawrence Stein; Mike (Eva) Erhardt; Connie Erhardt, Jack (Marcella) Erhardt, and Ray Erhardt; and sisters-in-law Rose (Matt) Barth; Frances (Delmer) Schulte, Margaret (George) Wetsch, Veronica (Wallace) Schulte and Lucretia Silbernagel.  

Jo will be remembered as a loving & caring wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend.  May she now rest in peace!

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you please make a donation to your favorite charity in her memory.

Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Josephine "Jo" Marie (Schafer) Erhardt, please visit our floral store.