Funeral services for Merle and Dorothy Brattvet, 82 and 77 of Hettinger, ND will be Saturday, April 11th, 2009 at the Hettinger Lutheran Church at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Kathleen Dettmann will officiate and burial will be at a later date at the Hettinger Cemetery. Visitations will be Friday, April 10 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday afternoon.

Merle Edwin Brattvet was born in Hettinger, ND on January 16, 1927 to Edwin and Selma (Oberg) Brattvet. Merle attended school through the eighth grade, after which he began working in the area.

Dorothy Ann Heinrich was born on March 5, 1932 in Hettinger, ND to Milton and Lillian (Bentsen) Heinrich. Dorothy graduated from Hettinger High School and attended two years of college, studying business.

Merle and Dorothy were married August 11, 1948 in Bismarck and lived in Hettinger where Merle worked as mechanic at several businesses in Hettinger. In 1968 they purchased a farm west of Hettinger where they farmed and lived until his retirement in 1998. They have since lived in Bowman for a few years and the past 10 years at their current residence in Hettinger. They both were very active in the ARC (Association for Retired Citizens) of Bowman and Dorothy managed the clothes closet for the ARC in Bowman for approximately 30 years.

Merle and Dorothy both tragically died on April 6, 2009 south of Dickinson, ND due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

They are survived by their children, Blair (Sharon) Brattvet, of Grand Forks, ND, Randy Brattvet, of Spearfish, SD and Merilee Brattvet, of Hettinger, ND; four grandchildren, Brooke Brattvet, Stephanie Lopez, Sonya Sherva and Aaron Brattvet and five great grandchildren. Merle and Dorothy were preceded in death by their parents and Merle's half-brother.