William A. “Bill” Alpert, 89, Richardton, died Sunday, September 12, 2010 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. William’s funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 2, 2010 at St. John Lutheran Church, Richardton, with Rev. Steven Schou officiating. Interment will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery. Military honors will be provided at this time by the Richardton American Legion, Theo. R. Zech Post #180. Visitation will be on Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
William A. Alpert was born February 21, 1921, to William C.F. Alpert and Emma (Nolte) Alpert, on the family homestead South of Richardton. Bill received his formal education at the Springvale #3 school. He worked for area farmers until he was inducted into the US Army in June 1942. During his tour of duty Bill saw action in Sicily, Germany, Normandy and the Northern France Campaigns. Bill had received the Purple Heart and was Honorably Discharged in May 1945.
Bill married Agnes Rebel on August 2, 1947 and they lived on his family’s homestead south of Richardton, where they raised four children, farmed and had a dairy farm. During this time Bill also worked for the Garwick Nursery in Dickinson, planting trees and doing landscape work at Air Force bases in North Dakota and Montana. He also worked many years at the Baker Boy Bake Shop in Dickinson and on the extra gang for Northern Pacific Railroad.
A big garden every summer was the norm for Bill and Agnes, as they both had very green thumbs. They were annual participants at the Farmers Market in Dickinson, until failing health required them to give up their favorite past time. Bill lived on the family homestead his entire life, until April 2010 when he moved to St. Benedict’s Health Center, in Dickinson and resided there until his death. In his younger years Bill was an avid deer and pheasant hunter. He also enjoyed wood working and cabinet making.
Bill is survived by his four children, Linda (Richard) Schell, Hettinger, Les (Sarah) Alpert, Richardton, Lois Bryant, Lawton, Okla., and William R. Alpert, Richardton; four grandchildren, Sonya Jo Erickson, Keith Rummel, Bobby Bryant and Nicole (Corey) Heringer; three great-grandchildren, Jonathan Schinzel, Danielle Erickson and Tanner Rummel; his sister, Shirley Bowman, Detroit, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Janice Alpert; many nieces and nephews; and numerous members of Agnes’ family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes on April 14, 2008; parents; brothers Ted, Charles and Francis; sisters and brothers-in-law, Elvira (Edwin) Hintz, Emma (Henry) Trieber, Lucille (Cliffton) Coleman; brother-in-law Daniel Bowman; an infant brother, Arnold; son-in-law, Bob Bryant and grandson, Stacy Bryant.
