NORTH DAKOTA OBITUARIES OF ALFORDS
AND SPELLING VARIATIONS
Obituaries are listed alphabetically by FIRST name. Included
are people whose last name, maiden name, or married name is Alford or a
spelling variation: Alfred, Alvord, Allford, Halford, Hallford, Holford, etc.
The name of the newspaper (or other source) and place and
date of publication follow the name of the deceased. If we published the obituary
in AAFA ACTION, the issue is noted.
The Alford American Family Association (AAFA) has often added
notes for each obituary, including Social Security Death Index (SSDI) data, relationship
of the deceased to other Alfords, and lineages. Extensive research notes are
not always included in the interest of making the obituaries available online.
We will add to AAFA NOTES as time permits.
Where lineages are included (Alford unless otherwise stated),
the format is: Name, year of birth, state or country of birth.
We welcome corrections and additional information. If you
have an obituary from this state that is not included here, please share it
with us!
Date posted: 21 MARCH 2009
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GERALD DENVAL ALFORD
DAILY NEWS
Minot, Ward Co., ND—Wednesday, 15 November 2006
Photo
from Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
Gerald Alford, 79, 1201-31st. Ave. SW, Minot,
died Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, in a Sioux Falls, S.D., hospital, after a
courageous battle with cancer.
Gerald Denval Alford was born Sept. 4, 1927, the
son of Monroe and Lillian (Ghoulson) Alford in Steep Creek, Texas. He graduated
from Atlanta High School, Atlanta [Cass Co.], Texas, in 1945.
He enlisted in the United States Army on Feb.
23, 1946. He was honorably discharged Aug. 9, 1947.
Following his honorable discharge, he worked
various jobs in Texas and Louisiana until enlisting in the United States Air
Force on Oct. 10, 1955. He proudly served his country and was stationed in
Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Coldbay, Alaska, and Fortuna.
While in Fortuna, he met and married Mary Ellen Blonigen
Todd on April 16, 1966. They then moved to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
City, Okla., where their two children, Elizabeth Ann and Denval Lee, were born.
Gerald eventually returned to Minot Air Force Base, where he retired as a
master sergeant May 31, 1977.
Following his honorable discharge, the family
moved to Texas, where Gerald attended technical school. They then settled in
Wichita, Kan., where he worked as an electrician at Beech Aircraft until his
second retirement in 1991. Gerald and his wife then returned to Minot to enjoy
retirement with friends and family.
He was blessed with two grandchildren who gave
him much joy and pleasure in the last three years of his life.
He was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic
Church and the AMVETS, both of Minot.
His loving family includes: wife of 40 years,
Mary Ellen, Minot; daughter, Elizabeth Alford, Sioux Falls: son, Denny (Sophia)
Alford, Minot; grandchildren, Austin Gregory and Braydon James Alford; sisters,
Mildred (Henry) King, Atlanta, Texas, Louise Ener, Houston, Texas, and Julia
(William) Gillmore, Cleveland, Texas; brother, Doyle Alford, Cleveland, Texas;
and numerous nieces, and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, Nov. 16,
2006, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Today from noon to 7 p.m. at
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot....
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates
of Gerald D. Alford (SS# issued in TX).
See the obituary of his wife Mary Ellen Ann Blonigen
Todd Alford
in this compilation.
Texas Birth Index (Ancestry.com) lists the birth
of Gerald Denval Alford in San Augustine Co., TX. His parents are listed as Monror
[sic] McKinly Alford and Lillian Gholson. Also listed as children of
Lillian Gholson, with father Monroe Alford, are Mildred Marrie Alford, b. 15
Nov 1930 in San Augustine Co., and Julia Gay Alford, b. 7 Dec 1938 in Cass Co.
On Monroe M. Alford’s 1918 WWI Draft
Registration Card (Ancestry.com), he is age 20 living in Steep Creek, San
Augustine Co., TX. He was born 6 Dec 1897. His nearest relatives were Emma and
Geo. Alford of Steep Creek.
Census reports show Monroe Alford as the son of
George W. and Emma Alford:
1900: Pollock, Grant Parish, LA, dwelling #944
George Alford head 30 Jan 1870 LA
LA MS married 10 years
Emma wife 28 Nov 1871 TX
TX TX 5 children, 5 living
Jesse dau 8 July
1891 TX LA TX
Eva dau 5 Jan
1895 LA LA TX
Monroe son 3 Dec 1896 LA
LA TX
Pettie dau 2 Feb
1898 LA LA TX
George B. son 4/12 Jan 1900 LA
LA TX
1910: Justice Precinct 6, San Augustine Co., TX, dwelling
#21
Geo. W. Alford head 42 LA MS MS first
marriage, 0 years [sic]
Emma wife 40 TX TX TX second
marriage 0 years
7
children, 5 living
Monroe son 12 LA LA TX
Pet dau 11 LA LA
TX
Ben son 8 LA LA
TX
1920: Justice Precinct 4, San Augustine Co., TX, dwelling
#39
George Alford head 52 LA MS MS saw
mill laborer
Emma wife 50 TX TX TX
Bennie son 18 LA LA TX saw
mill laborer
Columbus Massey nephew 26 TX MS TX works
on farm
William Massey nephew 20 TX MS TX farmer,
own place
1930: Precinct 4 (Steep Creek), San Augustine Co., TX, dwelling
#303:
George W. Alford head 62 LA Ireland [?] TX
divorced
SSDI records show that Monroe M. Alford (SS #452-12-5473 issued
in TX) was born 6 Dec 1896 and died Jan 1988 in Cleveland, Liberty Co., TX.
Texas Death Index (Ancestry.com) lists the death of G.W.
Alford on 8 May 1931 in San Augustine Co., TX.
Possible family of George W. Alford on the 1870 and 1880
censuses:
1870: No township, San Augustine Co., TX, dwelling #150:
Lem Alford 55 NC
Margaret 22 MS
G.W. (male) 3 LA
E.T. (female) 6/12 TX born Jan
George Perry 20 MS
Nancy Perry 17 MS
1880: No township (District 87), Shelby Co., TX, dwelling
#310:
Margaret Alford head 32 MS NC
MS widow
G.W. son 13 LA
NC MS
E.T. dau 10 TX
NC MS
G.W. Perry brother 26 MS
NC MS
1880: No township (District 87), Shelby Co., TX, dwelling
#212:
Lem Alford head 65 NC NC
NC widowed, mail carrier
Lem Alford appears to be enumerated in the household of 2
black servants, listed directly above him in dwelling #212/family #213.
However, it is most probable that these servants belong with the family above
in dwelling #211/family #212. Lem’s “relationship” is blank, as are all other
family heads. The enumerator probably entered the dwelling/family on the wrong
line.
Two family trees on RootsWeb.com show Margaret
Ann Perry and her brother George Washington Perry as children of Jesse and
Cynthia Perry.
Gerald’s lineage: Gerald Denval 1927 TX1,
Monroe McKinley 1896 LA2, George W. 1867 LA3, ??Lem 1815 NC4.
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MARY ELLEN ANN BLONIGEN TODD ALFORD
[Although she died in SD,
we are including her obituary here because of her close ties to ND.]
DAILY NEWS
Minot, Ward Co., ND—Saturday, 1 April 2007
Photo
from Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
Mary Ellen Alford, 77, 1327 25th St. SE #706,
Minot, ND, died Wednesday, March 28, 2007, in a Sioux Falls, SD, hospital.
Mary Ellen Ann Blonigen was born on June 9,
1929, the daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth (Finken) Blonigen in Douglas, ND.
She graduated from Douglas High School, in 1947.
Mary Ellen married Howard Todd April 21, 1955,
in Douglas, ND, at a double wedding with Wade and Rita Gulbranson. They made
their home in Douglas. From this union a daughter, Lynelle, was born. Both Lynelle
and Howard passed away in 1956.
Following her husbands death, she attended
nurses training in Crosby, ND, and graduated as a Registered Nurse.
Mary Ellen married Gerald Denval Alford
on April 16, 1966, in Fortuna, ND. They moved to Tinker Air Force Base,
Oklahoma City, OK, where their two children, Elizabeth Ann and Denval Lee were
born. They eventually returned to the Minot Air Force Base in 1969, where she
worked as a Registered Nurse at the Americana Nursing Home until May of 1977.
Following Gerald's honorable discharge from the
Air Force in 1977, the family moved to Cleveland, Texas for a short time. Mary
Ellen worked as a RN at the Cleveland Hospital. They then settled in Wichita,
Kansas, where she worked as a RN at a local nursing home until 1991. Mary Ellen
and her husband then returned to Minot, ND, to enjoy retirement with friends
and family.
She was blessed with two grandchildren who gave
her much joy and pleasure in the last four years of her life.
She was a member of St. John the Apostle
Catholic Church, Minot.
Her loving family includes: daughter, Elizabeth
Alford, Sioux Falls, SD; son, Denny (Sophia) Alford, Minot; grandchildren,
Austin Gregory and Braydon James Alford; sisters, Rita (Wade) Gulbranson,
Portal, ND; sister-in-law, Evangeline Blonigen, Carrington, ND; and numerous
nieces, and nephews.
Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents;
husband, Gerald; infant daughter, Lynelle Todd; brothers, Ryland and Clarence Blonigen;
and sister-in-law, Frances Karlsbroten.
Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, April 2, 2007,
at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.
Visitation: Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson
Funeral Home, Minot....
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates
of Mary Ellen Ann Alford (SS# issued in ND), last residence Sioux Falls,
Minnehaha Co., SD.
See the obituary of her husband Gerald Denval
Alford in this compilation.
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PEARL P. BEDKER ALLFORD WOLLSCHLAEGER
THE FORUM
Fargo, Cass Co., ND—Thursday, 29 July 1999
Pearl P. Wollschlaeger, 88 Grand Forks [Grand Forks
Co.], died Monday, July 26, 1999, in Altru Hospital, Grand Forks.
Pearl P. Bedker, was born Aug. 12, 1910, in LaMoure
County, N.D., where she grew up. She graduated from high school, in Jud, N.D.,
and later graduated from Ellendale (ND) College with a degree in education. She
taught school for many years in several North Dakota communities.
In 1954 she married Charles Allford in Edgeley,
N.D., where they made their home. He died in 1963. In 1972, she married Ernest Wollschlaeger
in Edgeley. They lived in Fargo. He died in 1988. In recent years, she lived at
Tufte Manor in Grand Forks.
She is survived by a brother, Melvin (Hada), Edgeley;
and two sisters, Mildred, (Richard) Wert, Grand Forks, Hazel Johnson, LaMoure,
N.D. Memorial service: Saturday at 2 in Edgewood United Methodist Church,
Fargo. Inurnment: Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Fargo....
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates
of Pearl P. Wollschlaege [sic] (SS# issued in ND), last residence Grand
Forks, Grand Forks Co., ND.
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TAMI LINN GENTZKOW ALFORD
Source unknown, but probably:
THE FORUM
Fargo, Cass Co., ND—16 October 1999
The memorial service for Tami Linn Alford,
Leonard, ND, formerly of LaMoure, ND, will be Sunday, Oct. 17, 1999, at 1 PM in
Zoar Lutheran Church, LaMoure. Rev. John Estrem will be officiating.
Tami Linn Gentzkow, daughter of Edward and
Carrie (Holub) Gentzkow was born April 20, l959, in LaMoure, where she grew up
and attended school. After graduating from high school, Tami entered the US Air
Force. Throughout the years, she was stationed at Lackland AFB, Texas, Tyndall
AFB, Florida, Hahn AFB in Germany, Cannon AFB, New Mexico, Spangdahlen AFB in Germany
, England AFB, Louisiana and McChord AFB, Washington.
She was united in marriage to Warren Alford
Jan. 6, 1984, in Clovis, NM. Tami retired from the Air Force in July of 1997,
after serving 20 years. In 1999 Tami and Warren moved to Leonard.
She passed away Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999, in her
home. She was 40 years old.
She is survived by her husband, Warren; her
mother, Carrie Gentzkow, LaMoure; six sisters, Beverly (Ray) Sandness, Minot,
ND, Helen (Curt) Oberlander, Linton, ND, Patty (Kenneth) Oelke, Killdeer, ND,
Barb (Earl) Willhern, Leonard, Bonny (Carl) Broyan, Blaine, WA, and Lori Gentzkow,
LaMoure; three brothers, Roger (Kris) Gentzkow, Bismark, Donald (Mary Lou) Gentzkow
and Rodney (Debbie) Gentzkow, all of LaMoure; and her father-in-law, George
Edgar Alford, Lake City, FL and mother-in-law, JoAnn Alford, Crystal River, FL.
Tami was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents.
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates
of Tami L. Alford (SS# issued in ND).
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VERNA MADELINE LOBERG ALFORD
THE FORUM
Fargo, Cass Co., ND—Sunday, 20 July 2008
Verna Madeline Loberg Alford died July 17, 2008,
at Bethany Homes in Fargo.
She was born June 16, 1913, in rural Fargo to Harry and Azora
(Lillegard) Loberg and was raised on a farm. She attended a country school for
seven years before attending Central High School in Fargo; Dakota Agricultural
College (now North Dakota State University); Valley City Normal (graduating
with a teaching degree) and Fargo Business College (receiving a business
certificate).
Verna worked for Armour & Co. for several
years as an accountant and office manager. She married Ernest F. Alford
in November 1944, in Des Moines, Iowa, and worked as office manager for the
Alford Implement Company until the company was sold in the early 1960’s.
After retirement, Verna purchased a kiln and
poured, fired and painted many pieces of china. She loved working on porcelain.
She also created hand-crafted items and opened Val’s Treasure Shoppe in her
home. She held special sales in the spring and fall and also took her wares to
craft shows.
Verna was a member of the Red Cross during WWII,
and was active in many civic organizations throughout her life. She was a past
president of the Fargo Nursing Home Auxiliary (now Rosewood) and had been a
member since the home was built. She was a member of St. Luke’s Auxiliary and
made toys for the children’s ward, and also a member and past president of
Chapter Mu of Beta Sigma Phi. She was active in the YWCA and on the Board and
assisted on the drive for funds when the YMCA and YWCA built the present YMCA
facility.
She assisted on several drives for funds for the
Community Chest of Fargo-Moorhead (now United Fund). She was a member of Fine
Arts, Pioneer Daughters, Orpah Chapter of Eastern Star, Shrine Auxiliary and
Windows of the Shrine Auxiliary, Eagles Auxiliary, Elks Auxiliary, Fargo
Moorhead Area Music Club, Fargo Moorhead Symphony Auxiliary, American Legion
Auxiliary, WWII Auxiliary and Sons of Norway.
She was a member of First United Methodist
Church. Verna served on several committees of the church; Administrative Board,
Board of Trustees, Memorial Committee, Committee on Finance, Nominating
Committee, Past President of United Methodist Women, Chairperson, Rooms &
Furnishings, Wedding Committee, General Chairperson, Funeral Committee. She also
participated in fundraising projects such as bazaars and rummage sales and
worked on several pledge drives. Verna was very honored to receive the Jewel of
a Woman award from the United Methodist Women.
Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest;
her parents; stepmother; five brothers Eugene, Allen, Harvey, Arlo and Leslie;
one sister, Adeline Loberg Barnes; one god-daughter, Mary Ann Barnes Parkhouse;
and stepson, William Alford.
Surviving are her step-daughter-in law, Marilyn
Alford; and step-granddaughters, Linda (Jack) Fritts and Susan (Neal) Boeckmann,
all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and step-granddaughter, Amy Nakai of Plymouth, MN.
Also four step-great-grandchildren, Lisa (David) Kesse, Auburn, IN; Jessica Fritts,
Minneapolis; David Nakai, Plymouth, MN; and Andrea Nakai, Minneapolis. She is
also survived by a sister-in-law, Louise Loberg of Fargo and niece, Emilie
(Maynard) Schossow, Park Rapids, MN. (Hanson- Runsvold, Fargo)....
Funeral: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 2pm, at
First United Methodist Church, Fargo, ND....
Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo.
Please feel free to sign the on-line guestbook
at hansonrunsvold.com.
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates
of Verna Madeline Alford (SS# issued in ND), last residence Fargo, Cass Co.,
ND.
