Helmuth Dewald

Helmuth Dewald, 83, Bismarck, ND, died Thursday, January 8, 2009, at St.Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:30 am, Monday, January 12, at First United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Walter Schott officiating. Burial will be held in the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm Sunday, January 11, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Helmuth was born February 22, 1925, near Streeter, ND, to John A. and Lydia Kirschenmann Dewald. He was raised and educated there, graduating from Streeter High School. He was a veteran of WWII having served in the Air Force in Okinawa. After returning from the service, Helmuth married Alice R. Spitzer on October 20, 1948, in Streeter. They began their life together on a farm eight miles southeast of Streeter. In 1955, they bought and moved to a farm seven miles north of Streeter, where they farmed until 1968. Helmuth and Alice moved to Bismarck in December of 1968 and Helmuth began working for the North Dakota State Lab. After one year, he transferred to the Central Data Processing Department as a computer operator and advancing to the position of Data Processing Coordinator for the Department of Human Services. Helmuth retired in 1990, turning his full attention to hunting and fishing. Most summer days he could be found in his boat, casting, trolling and competing with his buddies to catch the first and largest fish. After 46 loving years of marriage, Helmuth’s wife Alice died in 1994. Helmuth went on to meet and marry Lorraine Wolf Steffens on June 12, 1998. He discovered a new interest, dancing. Helmuth and Lorraine were among the couples featured in Polka Spotlight in the spring of 2008. They celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this last spring. Helmuth’s life was one of devotion to family, friends, and community. In Streeter, he was a member of the School Board and the Church Board of the United Church of Christ. He was a life member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was a 40 year member of First United Methodist Church in Bismarck. Helmuth is survived by his wife, Lorraine; his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Jeff Andrews, Minneapolis, MN; stepson, Jon Steffens, Bismarck, ND; stepgrandson, Brett Steffens, Camas, WA; one brother, Alvin Dewald, Streeter; ND; two sisters, Jean Dewald Morrison, Edina, MN, and Betty Dewald Bauer, Renton, WA. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; one infant son, Bruce; his parents; four brothers, John Jr. Elton, Harry, and Gerhart; and one infant sister, Eileen.

Helmuth Dewald

February 22, 1925 - January 8, 2009