Walter Morast

Walter Morast, 88, passed away unexpectedly on July 2, 2022 at Sanford Hospital, Bismarck. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM CT Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at Concordia Lutheran Church, Beulah with Pastor Toby Heller and Pastor T. Marcis, Jr. officiating.  Visitation will be Tuesday, July 5 at 5:00-7:00 PM at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah.  Burial will take place at Wittenberg Cemetery, north of Zap.

Walter was born on November 14, 1933 on the family farm north of Beulah to Juliana (Hoffman) and Ursus Morast. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at Peace Lutheran Church north of Beulah.  He graduated from the eighth grade at the local country school then spent the next eight years working on the family farm and various neighboring farms.  On January 1, 1956, he married his loving wife and farming partner of 58 years, Wilma Walz, at Wittenberg Lutheran Church north of Zap.  The next few years were spent working various jobs in the area.  In 1962 they moved onto the family farm nine miles north of Zap where they raised their four children and where Walter continued to reside. 

Walter was a self-taught musician, playing the guitar and accordion at barn dances and at the Zap Hall.  He proudly served on boards for many years including the Zap Grain Elevator, the Zap Fire Department, Beulah Farmer’s Union, and on the church council for Wittenberg and St. Luke's Lutheran Churches. 

Walter loved being a farmer and rancher. He cared for his crops and cattle with dedication and passion. Although Walter officially retired from farming in 2008, he continued to rent his crop and pasture lands, helping in any way he could.  He found great joy by cutting hay for an area farmer and finished his last field as recently as the day before he passed away. 

Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma; his son Veryl Morast; his daughter Valerie (Morast) Johnson; his parents; brothers Friedabert, Albert, Ervin, Ernest and Melvin; sisters Eleanor (Schlender) Scharosch, Edna Neuberger and Luella Langmaack.

He is survived by daughters, Vickie (Gregg) Batroot and Vonnie (Neal) Reinhardt; 10 grandchildren, Megan Knop, Matthew Batroot, Jenna Reiser, Jayme Wolf, Jerrica Morast, Lee Reinhardt, Samuel Reinhardt, Carson Reinhardt, Tayler Johnson and Reed Johnson; six great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Darlene Morast, Mabel Eisenbeis, Betty Unruh, Eunice Christmann and Karen Walz.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Homes, Beulah and Hazen.

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