George H Seaworth

George H. Seaworth, 97, Bismarck, died Saturday, January 15, 2011, at St. Alexius Medical Center with family at his side. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:30 pm Friday, January 21, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 520 Raymond Street, Bismarck with Father John Guthrie officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm Thursday, January 20, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. George Henry Seaworth was born May 10, 1913, on his grandparent's farm in Ogle County near Chana, Illinois. He was the seventh of nine children born to Thomas and Margaret Nicolson Seaworth. When George was 5 years-old, his family moved to Calvin, North Dakota where they farmed and raised short horn cattle. While George was in high school, his father died and the family had to pull together to keep the farm going during the Great Depression. George was the valedictorian of the Calvin High School Class of 1931. After high school, he was fortunate to be able to continue his education at the University of North Dakota with financial help from his older sisters, Janet and Martha and by working at a bakery. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve in 1935. After graduation, George worked with the Civilian Conservation Corp C.C.C. on the reconstruction of the On-A-Slant Indian Village at Fort Lincoln State Park south of Mandan. He enjoyed his role in the design of the footbridge leading to the reconstructed earth lodges. Later that year, he was hired by North Dakota State Highway Department in Bismarck as a structural draftsman and designer. In 1936, George found his fortune, Margaret Fortune, of Bismarck. Margaret and George were married October 25, 1941 at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in San Francisco where George was a structural engineer with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, George was called to active duty and ordered to report to Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. He trained in Massachusetts, Ireland and Scotland with the 1st Engineer Amphibian Brigade later renamed 1st Engineer Special Brigade and took part in allied landings in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno in Italy and, following additional training in England, the D-Day invasion of Normandy at Utah Beach. Following operations in Normandy, George was assigned to the 3053d Engineer Combat Battalion and for the remainder of the war the unit built bridges and completed other engineering work as the Allies advanced through France, Belgium and into Germany. After the war in Europe had ended, George returned to Bismarck in August of 1945 to see his three year-old son for the first time. He continued to serve his country as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, commanding the 468th Engineer Battalion which was made up of units from across North Dakota. He also resumed his civilian career as a professional engineer. From 1946 to 1957 he worked with the Bureau of Reclamation when plans for the Garrison Dam and Diversion Project were under development. In 1957, he joined the Bureau of Public Roads now the Federal Highway Administration or FHWA as a bridge engineer. He later was promoted to engineering coordinator and then assistant division administrator. In 1967, he was transferred to Columbus, Ohio as assistant administrator of the Ohio Division. Less than a year later, George returned to Bismarck as the division administrator of the North Dakota Division, a position he held until his retirement. George enjoyed the opportunity to serve the people of North Dakota as a professional engineer. Contractors and state officials alike knew him as a federal official who was willing to consider common sense North Dakota solutions when federal regulations didn't fit the local situation. He traveled every mile of the North Dakota state highway system leading Governor Art Link to say, "George knows more about North Dakota's highways than anyone else." Of all his accomplishments, George was most proud of the collaborative partnership formed between the FHWA and the North Dakota State Highway Department that made it possible for North Dakota to become the first state in the nation to complete its portion of the Interstate system. George was recognized for his contributions as a professional engineer and highway administrator with the FHWA Superior Achievement Award in 1976; the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineer's Chandler Award in 1978 and induction in the North Dakota Highway Hall of Honor in 1986. George and Margaret were loving and attentive parents who believed deeply in the value of education. They were active in supporting school, church, and service activities. George was a member of the American Legion, and a lifetime member of the Elks. He served as a regular volunteer at the annual St. Mary's Central High School Carnival and he often drove his children and their classmates to out of town school activities. He was a troop leader in the Boy Scouts and served as president of the St. Mary's Central High School PTA. He was the past president of the Bismarck Quarterback Club, the North Dakota Reserve Officer's Association, the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers and the Bismarck Lion's Club. He chaired the local Federal Employees United Way fund drive and served on the Mayor's Committee for Employment of the Handicapped, the Citizens Committee on the Needs of Bismarck High School and as secretary/treasurer of the Western Dakota Chapter of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association. In 1980, George retired from his professional career to care for Margaret when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. For the next 7 years, George cared for Margaret in their home. When it became necessary for Margaret to be cared for in a nursing home, he faithfully visited her every day. Margaret died August 11, 1999. After Margaret's death, George moved to the Waterford on West Century where he was able to enjoy independent living until his health deteriorated this past year. He was very grateful to the Waterford and to all of the assisted living staff who cared for him to make it possible for him to stay in his apartment as long as possible. He was also grateful to his doctors and the staff at St. Alexius Medical Center and St. Gabriel's Community for the care they provided. George will be deeply missed by his children and their spouses: George Jill Huntley, IL; Mary Henry Howe Grand Forks: Dr. John Dr. Barbara San Antonio, TX; H. "Pat" Janet Bismarck; Dr. Tom Mary Detroit Lakes, MN and Dr. Tim Marlene Bismarck; 19 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; sisters-in law: Eileen, "Dolly" Fracassi, Bismarck and Virginia "Ginny" Hensley, Odessa, MO; brother-in-law, Joseph Fortune, Grand Forks; Margaret's sister-in-law, Jean Fortune, Bismarck; Goddaughter, Sr. Stella Olson, Fargo; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife of 58 years, George was preceeded in death by his infant daughter, Anne; his parents; sisters: Janet Clopper, Martha Kelland, and Olive Ford; brothers: Tommy, John Ted, Ralph and a brother who died as infant. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the George and Margaret Fortune Seaworth scholarship funds that have been established at the University of Mary, University of North Dakota and St. Mary's Central High School

George H Seaworth

May 10, 1913 - January 15, 2011