Stanley “Stan” Joseph Barta Jr., 85, formerly of Michigan, ND, died peacefully on March 13, 2022 at his home in Grand Forks.
Stan was born August 28, 1936 in Grafton, ND, the son of Stanley and Antonette (Karnik) Barta. He attended school at Voss & Minto, ND, graduating in 1954 from Minto High School. Stan served in the US Navy for 2 years before returning to ND to attend Mayville State College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. In Mayville, he excelled in football and baseball. He earned all-conference honors in 1960 as a defensive back and was co-captain of the 1961 baseball team. Stan’s reputation as a hard-nosed competitor was legendary and a tag he carried with honor. One of Stan’s greatest honors came in 2009 when he was inducted into the Mayville State University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame again in 2015 as a member of the 1959 baseball team. Stan was married to Judy Wedin on August 22, 1960 in Grand Forks, ND. Together they had six children, 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Stan taught and coached in Michigan, ND and St. Thomas, ND before starting a retail career where he worked with World Book, JCPenney and Walmart. His love of athletics led Stan to become a lifelong umpire for basketball, football and baseball. Stan enjoyed hunting and fishing, a passion he shared with his children and grandchildren. Everyone who hunted with Stan knew he would bring more than enough sandwiches, snacks, and candies to feed everyone. It was an annual tradition for Stan to bring a bag of peanut butter chews for his longtime hunting companion, Ardell Olson, with whom he hunted for 40 years. Stan was a longtime member of St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church where he served as a reader and Eucharistic minister. He was a proud member of Knights of Columbus Council #6007 in Lakota, ND.
Stan is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy, Grand Forks, ND; children, Lori (Brad) Anderson, Thompson, ND, Jeff (Lisa) Barta, Grand Forks, John Barta, Puyallup, WA, Kristy (Dave) Binder, Bryn Mawr, PA, Joel (Dana) Barta, Ashland, WI, and Jim (Jenny) Barta, Grand Forks, ND; grandchildren, JT (Nikki) Anderson, Jess (Anderson) Heimark, Lindsay (Andrew) Benson, Annmarie, Bobby, Thomas and Annaliese Barta, Stephanie and Ali Binder, Jaime, Emma and Dani Barta, Cade and Cole Barta; great-grandchildren, Brett Anderson, Jaxson & Kaliah Heimark, Hunter & Maia Anderson; sisters, Joan (Barta) Michalski and Jody (Schiller) Hanson.
Stan was predeceased by his parents, Stanley & Antonette; brother, Darrel Barta; and grandson, Joshua Paul Barta.
A funeral mass and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church in Michigan, ND. The Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND www.iversonkassianfuneralservices.com