Tessie Aleson

Tessie Ann Buchele Aleson of Bismarck, passed from this life on March 3, 2007, at the age of 89. Celebrations of her life are planned for 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 6, at First United Methodist Church in Bismarck with Rev. Walter Schott officiating. Visitation will be Monday evening, March 5, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Additionally, a service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 7, at Evergreen United Methodist Church in Wahpeton, ND, with visitation on Tuesday evening, March 6, from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton. Interment will be at Fairview Gardens in Wahpeton. Any memorial gifts will be to a number of ministries designated by Tessie Aleson prior to her death. Tessie Ann Buchele was born on January 22, 1918, in Butler, SD, the youngest of eight children three of whom died in infancy. She graduated from Butler High School in 1936. Following a year at business college, she worked for Policy Holders National Life Insurance Company before heading to Western Union College in Le Mars, IA, for their two-year teacher training program, graduating in 1940. After teaching at Lester, IA, Tessie married her college sweetheart, Ardell "Al" Aleson, on June 9, 1943, at Butler, SD, a union that would endure under his death in March of 1999. Tess Aleson was a devoted, supportive spouse of her clergy husband throughout their married life. They served together in a variety of locations, beginning with Bantry and Des Lacs, ND, in 1943, moving to Minot in 1946 where Pastor Al was founding pastor of First Evangelical United Brethren Church. During this time the family grew, with the birth of a daughter in 1944 and twin sons in 1947. In 1949, they moved to Langdon, North Dakota, followed by a call to establish a new church in Williston, ND, in 1956. They continued their service to the church at Kindred, ND 1962-1969, First United Methodist Church in Bismarck 1969-1975, and the United Methodist parish on Enderlin/Sheldon, ND, from 1975 to formal retirement in 1983. Their "retired" life included another ten years of ministry with United Methodist churches of Wahpeton and Great Bend until fully retiring in 1993. A joy of Tessie's life during this time was a number of mission trips to the Red Bird Mission at Beverly, KY, plus overseas travels to Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, and Greece to visit Air Force family in those locations. In each community where they lived in North Dakota, Tessie often did substitute teaching as well as teaching basic piano to many students, while always involved in lay ministries of the church. Crafts and finding ways to serve others also became a focus of her time. Following the death of her husband, Rev. A. R. Aleson, in March of 1999, Tess Aleson moved back to Valley View Heights in Bismarck where she lived until her passing. Surviving family members include her daughter, Dianne Miller of Eagan, MN; lovingly adopted daughter, Gretta Rev. Bruce Buller of Rochester, MN; her son, AF Chaplain ret Dennis Carol Aleson of Colorado Springs, CO; and her son, Chaplain/Rev. Darrel Debbie Aleson of Bismarck, ND. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Julie Curt Jusczak, Jill Mike Woehrle, Jason Jennifer Miller, Jennifer Jason Tuttle, and Jed Miller all of the Minneapolis area, Wendy Aleson of Las Vegas, NV, Josh Aleson of Bismarck, ND, Ryan Emily Aleson of Orlando, FL, and Heather Dustin Bingham of Colorado Springs, CO. Tess Aleson includes in her legacy 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Rev. A. R. Aleson; her parents, John and Mary Buchele; three brothers, Alvin, Bert, and Harvey Buchele; and one sister, Cora Strutz.

Tessie Aleson

January 22, 1918 - March 3, 2007