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NORTH DAKOTA OBITUARIES

NORTH DAKOTA OBITUARIES OF ALFORDS

AND SPELLING VARIATIONS

 

Obituaries are listed alphabetically by FIRST name. The name of the newspaper (or other source) and place and date of publication follow the name of the deceased. The Alford American Family Association (AAFA) has added notes, when available, for each obituary, including Social Security Death Index (SSDI) data, relationship of the deceased to other Alfords, and Alford lineage information. Lineage format: Name, year of birth, state or country of birth. We welcome corrections and additional information!

 

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GERALD DENVAL ALFORD

 

DAILY NEWS

Minot, Ward Co., ND—Wednesday, 15 November 2006

 

 

Photo from: www.thompsonlarson.com/

 

            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 #461-34-5772 issued in TX). See the obituary of his wife Mary 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 numerated 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

 

DAILY NEWS

Minot, Ward Co., ND—Saturday, 1 April 2007

Photo from: www.thompsonlarson.com/

 

            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: See the obituary of her husband Gerald 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 #502-44-1626 issued in ND).