Joseph G. Gross (82), Bismarck, ND, formerly of rural Linton, ND,  passed away peacefully in his home on Monday October 30 ^th 2017.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 2, 2017 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Rural Linton, ND.  Burial will be St. Michael's cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 from  2 – 4:30 p.m. at Myers Funeral Home, Linton, and continue from 6 - 9 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, where there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m.

Joseph was born December 29, 1934 in Napoleon, ND the son of George and Francis (Schwartzenberger) Gross.  He was the 3 ^rd oldest of 11 children.  He attended grade school south of Napoleon and went to high school for one year as he was needed to assist on the family farm. In the summer of 1952 he found his lovely bride to be, Mary Ann Wald, at a barn dance.  Four years later in 1956 they were married at St. Johns rural church near Zeeland, ND.  They made their first home in Butte, Montana where he worked in the chemical plant as there was no work in North Dakota.  In 1961 they returned to North Dakota with their three children.  They rented a small farm in Ashley, ND before buying their farm near Linton and were blessed with six more children. After 31 years, Joe and Mary Ann turned the family homestead over to one of their sons and purchased a farm in Driscoll, ND until retirement in 2016.

Joe battled several illnesses including cancer multiple times.  He had a strong will to live and was very determined to win the fight.  His love for farming continued until the very end as his last requests were to buy a "good" horse to "ride" and to move cattle with his 4-wheeler.

Joe was extremely proud to be the Outstanding Farmer of the Year in 1975 and was a life member of the Knights of Columbus.  He enjoyed singing with the Young German Singers and drummed in two polka bands.  He also delivered his daughter Tammy (Stormy) in the storm of 1966 at their rural home.    Joe enjoyed working the cattle with his grandkids, taking them on 4-wheeler rides, riding the horses.

His hobbies included farming, going on trail rides, playing cards, and going to the casino. He was known as the cowboy with the tall black hat. He loved to dance and also actively participated in the "Wipe Out" with his kids and grandkids.

Joe is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann (Wald) Gross; eight children, Al (Katherine) Gross, Fargo, George Gross, Bismarck, Jane (Tom) Taber, Fargo, Bill (Patty) Gross, Linton, Sam (Missy) Gross, Linton, Tammy (Fritz) Geffre, Hankinson, Jackie (Jon) Grunefelder, Kintyre, and Mary Jo (Gordy) Jangula, Bismarck; 30 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

His siblings include Mary (John) Vetter, Msgr Val Gross, George (Elaine) Gross, Veronica (Wilfred) Masset, Lucy Scherr, and Donna Hoffman, brothers-in-law, Edwin Ternes and Don (Leona) Hertz. He is also survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Elsie (Adam) Gross, Rose Wald, Bill (Millie) Wald, Donna (Joe) Fiest, Ann 'Margie' (Sam) Piatz, Theresa Bates, and Valencia Wald; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his parents George and Frances Gross, his stepmother, Julia, his mother and father-in-law, Markus and Katherine Wald, his infant daughter, Mary, siblings, Clemens Gross, Frances Lindeman, Barbara Ternes, and Helen Hertz, in-laws, Terry Scherr, Clarence Lindeman, Phyllis Wald, Alvin Wald, Wayne Bates, James Wald and many nieces and nephews.