Katherine Alpert, 95, Dickinson, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Katherine’s Funeral Service will be 10 a.m., Saturday, August 3, 2019 at Ladbury Funeral Service with Pastor Lisa Lewton officiating. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. There will be a Gathering of Family and Friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service and visitation will continue on Saturday, 8 a.m. until service time.
Katherine Hagel was born to Joseph and Anna (Schneider) Hagel on the family farm on April 24, 1924. She met the love of her life, Clifford Alpert, and they were married in Billings, Mont., on January 23, 1945. Cliff and Katherine lived in Billings and Glasgow, Mont., in town and on the farm south of Richardton before moving to Dickinson. The couple had seven children: twins Sherryl (James) Weisenberger, Sherran (Harvey) Mayer, Holly (Larry) Erdmann, Melanie (Donald) Whitehead, Alan, and twins Roxy (Carol), and Russel (Bernardine).
Katherine attended school and completed 8th grade. She was very proud to achieve her GED in her 50s. She worked a number of short term jobs: Hauck Millwork making cabinets, Trinity High School as a cook, St. John’s Lutheran church cleaning, Allied Van Lines packing houses, selling cleaning products for Best Line, sewing Score More bowling wrist guards, doing upholstery in her home. Her longest and most loved job was caring for her large garden and flower beds.
Clifford and Katherine were 4-H leaders and very involved with Model T Square Dance Club. Katherine painted many beautiful pictures and sewed and crocheted many items she shared with her family. In later life, she played Spider and Free Cell solitaire on her Kindle, did crossword puzzles and read voraciously.
Katherine was predeceased by her parents; beloved husband Clifford; all 13 of her sisters and brothers: Anna (Bill) Heidecker, Freida (Paul) Heidecker, Joseph (Rosemary) Hagel, Nick (Kathryn) Hagel, John (Eva) Hagel, Betty (Frank) Miller, Anton (Margaret) Hagel, Marge (Bill) Wray, Gertie (Cecil) Cook, Caroline (Bill) Ratzlaff, Peter (Barbara) Hagel, and Peter and Mary Margaret who died as young children; daughters-in-law Lorie Magelky and Cyndee Alpert.
She is survived by her children and 12 grandchildren: Kimberly (Alan) Takle, Monty (Kay), Melissa (Mayer) Riedlinger, Matthew (Tami) Erdmann, Samantha (Grant) Ridgeway, Daniel (Mindy) Whitehead, Stephen Whitehead, Abigail (Doug) Rhoden, Cale Alpert, Latoya (Ross) Myran, Kevin Alpert and Kathryn Alpert, and nine great-grandchildren: Alexandra (Alex) Veitz, Kennedy Takle, Jordan and Jacey Mayer, Regan and Rylee Riedlinger, Lucille Myran, Xerxes and Celia Whitehead.
