Craig Sjoberg

Craig Robert Sjoberg, 72, of Mandan, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Saturday, August 29th. Known as an exceptional conversationalist who believed no one was a stranger, Craig didn’t just live life, he narrated it with joy, an incredible sense of humor, and a deep commitment to making his community a better place. Craig’s infectious laugh could be heard a mile away and reminded us never to take life too seriously.

Craig was born on December 27th, 1953 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Ralph and Arleen Sjoberg. He was raised and educated in Wisconsin, graduating from Whitnall High School in Greenfield, WI in 1972. At 17 years old his “lifetime of service” started when he joined as a volunteer fireman for the Franklin Fire Department. After high school Craig went on to attend UW-Madison where he was a proud member of the Badger crew team. Shortly after, Craig met the love of his life Pudge (Peggy) Hellman, and the two were married on June 4th, 1977. They moved to Mandan, ND 1979. Together, they built a life filled with laughter, connection and decades of shared history. In 1989 they welcomed their son, Jesse.

For many years, Craig was a self-described jack of all trades and master of none. He worked as a rough carpenter, a salesman, a public transportation driver, a plane refueler, and a compliance officer. His love for aviation also led him to serve as a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Craig was also a member of the Mandan Rural Fire Department for many years. Craig’s true calling was working in law enforcement where he was a patrolman for both the Bismarck and Mandan Police Departments. Craig served his community with unmatched pride. After his retirement from the police department, he started his own lawncare business, Sjoberg and Son Lawncare. This venture became a lifelong bond with Jesse. The two spent countless hours working side-by-side, mowing lawns, landscaping, and learning the trade together. Craig taught Jesse everything he knew, and he was incredibly proud to watch Jesse eventually take over the business and carry on that legacy.

Outside of work, his hands were rarely still. He was active in the automotive community, spending countless hours restoring old cars. His pride and joy was his 1966 Impala, named Heart and Soul, which became another labor of love shared with Jesse as they spent hours working on it together. The car perfectly reflected his patience, skill, and appreciation for a classic.

Craig’s last public service to his community was being appointed as a Mandan City Commissioner. Craig took the role very seriously, being described as a passionate, caring and diligent leader, whose sole focus was improving the city he loved.

Woven through every chapter of Craig’s life was his devotion to his faith. He walked closely with God through every blessing and trial. In his final days, his faith remained his anchor; he held tightly to Jesus until the very end, stepping into eternity with the peaceful assurance of a life redeemed and a soul securely at home.

Above all, Craig was a family man. He leaves behind loved ones who will miss his long, animated stories, including his beloved wife, Pudge; his son, Jesse, daughter-in-law Kayla; and his legacy lives on through his cherished grandchildren, Addison and Lincoln. Being their Papa was Craig’s favorite role. Addison will miss drawing and coloring pages with him and Lincoln will miss building car Lego sets. They both will miss his “big bear hugs” that he gave whenever there was a good-bye. He will also be missed by his loyal, furry companion, Autumn. Craig is survived by his brother Dave (Linda) Sjoberg, his sister Manette (Brad) Hanson and their families, as well as his sister-in-law, Mary (Tom) Palanuk, brother-in-law Tom (Karla) Hellman, Mike (Robin) Hellman, Dan Hellman, Bill (Karen) Hellman, Wayne Kruckenberg and their families.

He is also survived by extended family, current and former law enforcement, firefighters, city colleagues, car community buddies, and countless friends. He is undoubtedly now reunited with old friends and family gone before him, eagerly giving them a very thorough, very detailed, and well told update on everything they missed.

An opportunity for family and friends to share their own favorite stories about him—will be on Thursday, September 3rd at the Bismarck Funeral Home from 5pm-8pm. A Celebration of Life will be Friday, September 4th at 11am at Engage Church in Mandan, immediately followed by a luncheon at the Mandan Eagles. In lieu of flowers or plants, the family asks that you make a donation to one of the organizations he was passionate about, the Mandan Cares Organization, North Dakota Vetran’s Cemetery, or the Central Dakota Humane Society in Craig’s honor.