H ertz Funeral Homes of Harvey and McClusky

The history and location of Hertz Funeral Homes, Inc. dates back to the early 1900’s. H. O. Hansen owned and operated it until the mid 1940’s when Donald Ebeltoft became owner. In 1949 the funeral home was purchased by Alvin Berg, the owner of Berg Funeral Home in McClusky. In 1972 the Berg and Hertz Funeral Home Corporation was formed by Alvin Berg and Nick Hertz, Jr. In 1979 Nick Hertz, Jr. became the sole owner of the business under the present name of Hertz Funeral Homes, Inc. of Harvey and McClusky. Nick J. Hertz III joined his father in the business in September 1981. Nick J. purchased the corporation from his father in 1994. Bryan Armstrong, another licensed funeral director joined Nick J. in the business in 1995.

Nick Hertz Jr. (1926-1994) was a native of Goodrich and managed or owned the Hertz Funeral Home for nearly 45 years. He graduated from Goodrich High School and attended NDSU in Fargo and graduated from the Cleveland College of Mortuary Science in 1947. He was employed by funeral homes in Williston and Rugby before coming to Harvey in 1949. He was married to Marie Volk (1927-2001).

Nick J. Hertz is a Harvey native and graduated from the Harvey High School in 1975. He graduated from University of North Dakota in Grand Forks with a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing. He was a Registered Nurse in Rochester, MN and Minneapolis. He received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota in 1981 and returned to Harvey. Nick J. has been active in his profession having served on the board and as president of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. He is married to Collette Koble from HHS Class of 1981.

Bryan Armstrong is a Mohall, ND native. He graduated from the Mohall High School and majored in Funeral Service Education at Mount Hood Community College in Portand, Oregon. He is married to Nicole Ripplinger from HHS Class of 1989.

The funeral home has served the five county area with locations in Harvey and McClusky. Major investments in upgrading the Harvey facilities were made in 1962, 1986, 1994 and 2000. The McClusky location was redecorated in 2011. The staff has and continues to volunteer countless hours in community service through different community organizations such as Harvey Fire Department where Nick Jr. was a 25 year member and Nick J. is a past Fire Chief and 29 year member; Lions; Chamber; St. Cecilia Catholic Church and Cemetery to name a few.

Employees of the Harvey funeral home over the years have included Fred Liebelt, John Deck Jr., Carl Thiege, John K. Keller, Tom Theige, Paul Graumann, Clarence Thompson and Rick Jensen. Thomas Miller, HHS Class of 1978 and Floyd Erickson HHS class of 1957 are currently employed part time. Those employed at the McClusky location include, Bud Berg, Glenn and Laverne Swendsen, Jake Waltz and current employee Lloyd Lauer.

Nick J. and Bryan are employees of a business that has been part of the Harvey community for over 60 years. The funeral home has been called upon and has provided service outside the immediate area frequently doing funerals in other state communities such as Bismarck. They are also called upon for assistance in providing immediate information to local families when death occurs when they are out of state visiting or residing. Nick J. and Bryan have provided service with respect and dignity in carrying out the wishes of the families served – a tradition lasting over 60 years.