On Thursday, November 14, 2024, surrounded by family, Alfred Henry Dahmus, 86, peacefully passed away at St. Luke’s Home in Dickinson, North Dakota. Alfred’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, November 22, 2024 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Ryan Martire as celebrant. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m. with Fr. Brandon Wolf and Deacon Leonard Krebs presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the mass at the church.
Born on January 4, 1938 in Jerseyville, Illinois, Alfred was the son of Rudolph Aloysius Dahmus and Catherine Engel Dahmus—two farmers who later relocated to Regent, North Dakota when Alfred was just three years old. Alfred was the third oldest of eight children. His brothers and sisters were Margaret, Paul, Mary (Sister Grace), Rita, Agnes, Henry and Joe. As a child, Alfred enjoyed playing in the dirt with toys, basketball, and softball with his siblings. Part of his regular farm chores included milking the cows and feeding the chickens. Alfred attended grades 1-8 at Consolidated Country School and attended St. Mary’s Boarding School in New England, ND for grades 9-12, graduating in 1955. He enjoyed all school subjects and loved listening to the Lone Ranger radio show so much, he would often race to get chores done to be able to listen to it. As he grew older, Alfred rode horses, went hunting and fishing with friends and spent time with family. Oftentimes at these gatherings, they would play cards.
Upon graduation from high school, Alfred attended Dickinson State Teachers College and received his teaching certificate. He taught for one year in a one-room schoolhouse north of Mott. One surprising thing many people didn’t know about Alfred is he went to college to become a teacher and taught for a year before he decided it wasn’t the career for him. Instead, he enlisted in the army in 1957, was stationed in Germany, and was discharged honorably in 1960.
After his service in the Army, he worked in various construction trades, and eventually, Alfred met his future wife Sharon Dahmus while he worked with Sharon’s dad moving houses in the area. They were married on November 9, 1965. Alfred and Sharon had four children: Greg, Kristin, Doug, and Heather. They lived in Dickinson for their entire marriage.
In 1976, in partnership with his two brothers, he founded Dahmus Construction and quickly became known for their quality of work. In his spare time, Alfred enjoyed gardening, making furniture, creating projects for his children and grandchildren, watching his beloved Twins and Vikings, and listening to Rush Limbaugh.
When asked to give advice to young people he said, “It’s better to say nothing instead of saying something bad.” He also said to make due with what you have and trust in God.
Alfred is survived by his wife, Sharon; their children: Greg (Amy) Dahmus of Bismarck, ND; Kristin (John) Griffith of Spokane, WA; Doug (Darcy) Dahmus of Dickinson, ND; and Heather (Ben) Romans of Bismarck, ND; his seven grandchildren: Kiara, Carter, Evan, Seth, Samuel, Jack and Jacob; siblings: Mary (Sister Grace) Dahmus of Bismarck, ND; Rita Christina of Phoenix, AZ; Agnes Haas of Dickinson, ND; and Henry Dahmus of New England, ND; sister-in-law, Shirley Dahmus of Fargo, ND; and many nieces and nephews.
Alfred was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arnold and Vivian Johnson; sister, Margaret Procive; brothers, Paul and Joe; and brothers-in-law, Robert S. Procive and Dave Haas.
