Ruben Arnold Maedche

Ruben Arnold Maedche

June 3, 1938 – October 2, 2025

Ruben was born June 3,1938, on the family farm in Burt, North Dakota, the youngest of 12 children.

His parents, Juliana Verworn and August Maedche were German immigrants from Russia, part of an ethnic group known as “Germans from Russia”. His dad died when he was 5, which ended farm life for him as a child. They left the farm and moved to Hebron, ND. His care-free childhood was spent shooting rats at the dump with his best friend, Rodger Rau. They collected metal scraps for Ruben’s uncle, a local blacksmith, who hand-forged tools from their gatherings and gave them money to buy more bullets. He was the bicycle delivery boy for his mother’s pickled, whole small watermelons, popular with the other ethnic Germans from Russia in Hebron. This brought home a nickel a piece to his mother, a valuable sum during slim times.

He started first grade only speaking German. As a youngster, he was asked to travel the area with a veterinarian testing for Bangs disease, now known as Brucellosis. He acted as the interpreter for the vet, given that most farmers in the area only spoke German. With these funds, he proudly bought his mom a new refrigerator. This perhaps gave him the impetus to leave formal studies at school and go to work. He was a self-taught man and could make or fix anything he put his mind to. He never quit fixing, even in his final days. His hands and mind were always in motion.

In 1955, he and Rodger enlisted into the US Navy together, and Ruben served until 1958. He married Joyce Clark in Hebron in 1959. They moved to Livingston, MT where their son, Don and daughter, LaVonne (Sissi) were born. Shortly after that they moved to Manhattan, MT and he began working for Stanley Kimm, who was a life-long friend and mentor. After his marriage ended in 1972, he married Dawn Opsahl McGaugh and moved back to Livingston to work as a machinist for the railroad. He then became a father figure to her 3 sons Ike, Morris and David.

 Working with the railroad took him to Alliance, NB and Guernsey, WY and finally retired in Dayton, WY. His retirement, like his life, was spent making, doing and repairing. If he couldn’t figure out a problem while awake, he’d figure it out in his dreams and have the answer by morning. He could always make something bigger, better or faster. He’d “Rubenize” it. He loved fishing and hunting, camping and spending time outdoors. He loved to grow things and cook things, pickling and canning and was well known for his sausage making skills, which he has passed down. Of course, with his hunting and machining interests, he was also a gunsmith. He also had a natural eye for photography. He could do anything he set his mind to.

 He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings, Marie, Ida, Roland, Martha, Arthur, Gottfred, Albert, Wilford, Ernest, Alice, Charles as well as his stepson David’s wife, Nanette Stark McGaugh.

In addition to his wife, Dawn, survivors include Don Maedche & Joe Gray, LaVonne & Chris Stucky and their children Kelly, and Juliana & Johnathan Tipton, who affectionately called him Sausage Papa. Ike McGaugh and his son Matthew, daughters Emily & Helena and stepson Cameron Nuss. Morris & Sue McGaugh, his stepson Casey & Amy Henry and their children Aspen & Hudson. David McGaugh and his sons Kyle, and Nicholas & Heather and their daughter Magnolia. He also survived by several nieces and nephews, including Bill Eggar and his wife Diane, who were more than family but life-long friends. Being close in age, he and Bill were early cohorts in many shenanigans. His body is now free from pain, and he has joined, in heaven, all of those who have gone before him.

Graveside Services with Military Honors are at 11:30 A.M., Monday, October 6, 2025, at the Dayton Cemetery in Dayton, WY.  A reception will follow service at the Dayton Community Hall, 412 Bridge St., Dayton.

Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com.                                                                

Arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.