Joseph “Joe” L. Glaser, 88, Dickinson, died Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Joe’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 26, 2010, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Jeff Zwack as the celebrant. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military honors will be provided by the Dickinson Honors Team following the Mass. Visitation will be on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a rosary & vigil at 4 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson.
Joseph L. Glaser was born May 12, 1921, near St. Pladsidus north of Mott, the son of Nickedemus and Rose Mary (Fischer) Glaser. He attended elementary school in that area and then went on to attend and graduate from Glen Ullin High School. Joe was called into the United States Army on July 20, 1942, here he served as a member of the 95th Infantry Division that was sent to Europe and attached to the 3rd Army under General George Patton. This mission sent him to northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe, where he a received three battle stars for his part in three major battles, the last being the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to the states in July of 1945 and was stationed at Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg, Miss. His company was waiting for orders to be shipped to Japan. Orders for his company were changed and Joe received an Honorable Discharge on November 12, 1945.
Joe married Frances Kary on October 9, 1945 at St. Phillips Catholic Church, Hirschville. They returned to Dickinson where Joe found employment as a bartender at Binek’s, while also taking a few courses at the college to brush up on book-keeping. He worked for the Farmer’s Union Creamery as a book-keeper and then joined Mann’s Automotive where he was book-keeper for about 11 years. While in Dickinson, Joe was very active with the local fire department, and also belonged to the D.A.V., and the Knights of Columbus.
In 1960, together they bought a hardware store and opened the first Coast-to-Coast Store in Bowman. While there Joe was very busy with the store and was also very active with the city commission. He was president of the Bowman County Draft Board, and as members of St. Charles Catholic Church, were very instrumental in the construction of the new church building. He was a great supporter of the school sports programs. After 12 years of hard work, they sold the Bowman store and bought into the Dickinson partnership. Being tired and loosing their health, they sold their interests and semi-retired.
Getting restless, Joe spent several years working at the NDSU Experiment Station and then retired. They then enjoyed traveling and sight-seeing, spending time with their family. They had well earned a long vacation. They loved to square dance and do polkas and waltzes for enjoyment. Joe loved being with the kids, hunting fishing and camping, and always looked forward to them coming home for the holidays. Needless to say, the grandkids were a great plus and now the great-grandkids are equally precious.
Joe is survived by his wife, Frances; five children, Carmelita (Jeff) Karch, Richardton, Alice (Bob) Karn, Dickinson, Roberta (Doug) Scales, Lethbridge, Alberta Canada, James (Jeanette Liang), Breckenridge, Colo., and Dean (Wendy Moss), Gardnerville, Nev.; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Mike, Dickinson, Kasper, Glendive, Mont., Clarence (Gladys), Glendive, Gene (Delores), Dickinson, Dan (Carrie), Vancouver, Wash., Tom (Bridget), Dickinson, Ann Hondl, Bismarck, and Alvin (Rosemary), Bismarck. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, John Paul; sister, Leona; brothers, Ray and Ed; and daughter-in-law, Mary Jo (Klosterman) Glaser.
