Alois G. Kessel, 88, Dickinson, ND, died Thursday, March 27, 2008 at his home. Mass of Christian Burial for Alois will be at 10 am Monday, March 31, 2008 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Belfield, ND with Fr. Austin Vetter as celebrant and Fr. Shannon Lucht as con-celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery with military honors provided by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post #144. Visitation will be from 11 am to 9 pm Sunday at Ladbury Funeral Service and will continue on Monday one hour prior to services at the church. There will be a rosary and vigil at 7 pm Sunday at Ladbury Funeral Service with Deacon Ron Keller presiding.
Alois was born March 22, 1920 in Billings County of North Dakota, the son of Frank J. and Clara T. (Martian) Kessel. He was raised and educated in Belfield, graduating from Belfield High School in 1940.
Alois joined the United States Marine Corp in November 1942 and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. He saw combat on Tarawa Atoll, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. After serving in Nagasaki during the Occupation of Japan, Alois was discharged in November 1945.
Alois worked in Belfield and the state of Washington, returning to Belfield in 1948. He then worked in carpentry with his brother Nute. They established Kessel and Kessel Builders and Supply and worked with three other brothers in contracting and construction until 1975. Alois worked independently and farmed until his retirement in 1992. He and Dorothy moved to Dickinson in 1992 where they have lived since.
Alois belonged to the Belfield Fire Department and the Billings County Fire Department.
Alois is survived by his wife, Dorothy; their eight children, Donald (Julie) Kessel, Humble, TX, Nancy Kessel, Salt Lake City, UT, Linda (Ted) Eskridge, Haysville, KS, Rex Kessel, Killeen, TX, Dean Kessel, Bismarck, ND, Beverly (Daniel) Lewtschuk, Boise, ID, Barbara (Bryan) McGee, Denver, CO, and Clara Kessel, Brooklyn, NY; seven grandchildren, Chandler and Carter Kessel, Crystal (Paul) Rehmet, James Dolyniuk, Courtney Eskridge, Alexander Lewtschuk, and Abrianna McGee; one great-grandson, Dylan Rehmet; three sisters, Mary Olinger, Dickinson, Agatha (Floyd) Higgins, Portland, OR, and Florence Boelow, Portland, OR; and one other son-in-law, Rod Dolyniuk, Wichita, KS. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Dokia; his parents; seven brothers, Frederick, Ignatius “Nute”, George, Leo, Richard, Leontius and Nicodemus; and two sisters, Agnes Halstead and Angie Romine.
Memorials are preferred to either Heartland Hospice or to Caringbridge.com
