Walter Filler, 92 of Harvey, ND formerly of rural Anamoose died Friday, January 22, 2021 at the St Aloisius Nursing Home in Harvey.   The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2021 at First Lutheran Church, Harvey, with interment in Sunnyside Cemetery, Harvey, ND.  Visitation will be held one hour prior at the church.  First Lutheran Church follows CDC guidelines including wearing of masks in the church.  The service will be streamed live on the the First Lutheran Church, Harvey Face Book page.

Walter was born on May 30, 1928 near Lincoln Valley, south of Anamoose, ND to Reinhold and Christiana (Goll) Filler.  He attended rural grade school and later in life obtained his high school GED. As a teenager he worked on the family farm and for neighbors.  He later enlisted in the US Marine Corp.  After being discharged he returned to farming.

Walter married Margene Hirschkorn on June 8, 1952 in Martin ND and they continued to live and farm north of Goodrich for many years before moving to a farm south of Anamoose. They had four children, Candra, Pamela, Reed and Ryan.

Walter and Margene worked along with other parents of developmentally disabled children in central North Dakota through the ARC organization to secure educational rights and help establish Special Education classrooms for their son Reed and others.  Walter worked as an aid in the Special Education classroom in Drake Public Schools.  As their son Reed became an adult, Walter worked with Mrs. Julia Senger and other parents in the Harvey area to provide developmentally disabled adults with opportunities for work and shelter in the community.  In 1980 they started HAV-IT in Harvey, ND.

Walter and Margene also opened their home to many foster children over the years.

Walter served as a director of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, on the Sheridan County Water Board and the Anamoose School Board.  Walter was a member of Harvey First Lutheran Church and the Albert Block Post of the American Legion in Goodrich ND.

Walter loved spending time with his family, visiting friends and neighbors, playing pinochle, and collecting and restoring antiques.

Walter is survived by daughters, Candra (Brian) Tessmann of Fargo, ND, Pamela (Butch) Akers of Harwood, ND; son Ryan Filler of Goodrich, ND; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers Wesley (Dena) Filler of Minot, ND and Rufus Filler of Fargo, ND; numerous nieces and nephews.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Margene on September 30, 2014; son, Reed on July 17, 2020; sisters Frieda (Robert) Bartz of Anamoose, Lillie (Alfred) Feil of Rock Valley, IA, and Violet (Lawrence) McCartney of Oakland, NB; brothers Roy (Darlene) Filler of Martin and Alvin Filler as an infant.