Alice K Dewitz

Alice Katherine Hild Dewitz, 93, passed away on May 8, 2011 at MedCenter One off Collins in Mandan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, May 14, 2011 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Steele ND with Father Jerome Hunkler officiating. Burial will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery near Steele. Visitation will begin 5:00 pm, Friday, May 13, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Steele, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Alice was born on March 4, 1918, in Steele, ND, to Joseph W and Lena Klein Hild. She attended grade school and high school in Steele, graduating in 1936. She attended Winona Business College in Winona, MN, where she also made her home with an aunt and uncle. Upon completing the business course, she returned to Steele where she was employed for three years with the National Farm Loan Association. In January 1941, she began employment with the Civil Aeronautics Administration in Fargo, working there until she left Fargo in March of 1942. On October 22, 1941, she married Albert "Nuck" Dewitz at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Tappen. They moved to a farm seven miles north of Tappen and lived there until 1948. At that time, they purchased Alice's parents' farm near Steele. While raising their six children there, they expanded the farming operation that remains in the family name today. The farm is listed as a Centennial Farm with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. As a farm wife and mother, Alice managed to raise a garden, give sewing instructions, tear down buildings, take care of chickens, feed her family plus the hired men, get rid of "varmints", and still find time to indulge in reading on a daily basis. Alice and Nuck retired in 1982 and moved into their home in Steele. Nuck died in 1985 and Alice continued to make her home there. Never one to be idle, Alice was a very active member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, St. Mary's Altar Society, Golden Manor Auxiliary and Board; Steele Friendship Club, the Steele Area Betterment Group, and Kidder County Historical Society. In addition to her involvement in various organizations, Alice found time to travel all over the world, stitch needle-point pictures for each of her grandchildren, send hundreds of birthday cards, and host family and social events. These were not unnoticed as she was recognized with various awards, including "Bismarck Tribune Volunteer of the Year". Alice entered the Golden Manor Nursing Home in Steele 2005, and moved to Med Center One off Collins in Mandan in 2009. Alice made many friends and received excellent care in both facilities. She was very grateful for the compassionate attention she received, and her family shares that sentiment as well. Alice will be missed by her six children, Mary Alice Robert Gaebe, New Salem, Rita Maynard Loibl, McVille, Joel Nancy, Steele, Linda Gary Kienzle, Washburn, Bonita Joe Moch, Mandan and Robin Jolene, Steele. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren. There was nothing Alice loved more than the "family gatherings" held several times a year that included as many as 70 members of the Dewitz Clan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; grandson, Ross Loibl; brothers, Gaylord and Joseph Hild; and an infant sister, Mary Mildred. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Steele, Kidder County Historical Society or the American Cancer Society.

Alice K Dewitz

March 4, 1918 - May 8, 2011