Valley City in Barnes County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Herman Stern
N.D. Businessman, Community and Social Leader, Holocaust Rescuer
Photographed by Jerry Klinger, October 15, 2016
1. Herman Stern Marker
N.D. Businessman, Community and Social Leader, Holocaust Rescuer
Born in Germany in 1887, Herman Stern immigrated to America in 1903, where he took work at the Straus Clothing store in Carrington. Stern later managed the Straus North Dakota businesses from his store in Valley City, where he lived for the remainder of his life. In addition to his businesses, charitable work and support of the Boy Scouts, Stern developed the North Dakota Winter Show. In the 1930s, with the aid of his wife Adeline and active cooperation from U.S. Senator Gerald Nye, Mr. Stern managed to bring more than 125 Jewish refugees out of Germany and into new lives in the United States. He said little in later life about rescuing so many men and women from inevitable death in the Holocaust, noting only they did not owe me anything. For his many achievements and contributions to the state, Stern was inducted into the Roughrider Hall of Fame in 2014.
Erected 2016 by Barnes County Historical Society, Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. (Marker Number 001.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures
this page online
Location. 46° 55.404′ N, 98° 0.107′ W. Marker is in Valley City, North Dakota, in Barnes County. It is on Valley City Memorial Park, on the right when traveling north. Across the street from the VFW, in Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 138 Main St, Valley City ND 58072, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Red River Valley. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The 164th Infantry Memorial Highway (a few steps from this marker); The Honored Dead Barnes County World War II (within shouting distance
Photographed by Jerry Klinger, October 15, 2016
2. Herman Stern Marker -Dedication
More about this marker. First roadside historical interpretive marker in North Dakota
Also see . . .
1. "N.D. businessman saved Jews from Nazi Germany". Bismarck Tribune website article: (Submitted on November 2, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Dedication of the Herman Stern Historical Marker in Valley City North Dakota. YouTube video entry (42 min.) (Submitted on July 7, 2018.)
3. The Slippery Slope: Holocaust Rescue and Herman Stern. Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation website entry:
Herman Stern was a small town North Dakota clothier centered out of Valley City. He was isolated, remote from any major Jewish community. He and his wife lived their
Photographed by Jerry Klinger, October 15, 2016
3. Herman Stern Marker
Additional keywords. American Jewish History; Judaica
Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2016, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,034 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 1, 2016, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on May 25, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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