Roy Walter Dockter

Roy Dockter, 87, Bismarck, died of lung cancer January 21, 2012, at home surrounded by his family. Services will be held 10:00 am Wednesday, January 25, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1143 N 26th Street, Bismarck, with Rev. Larry Giese officiating. Interment will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm Tuesday, January 24, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 8:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Roy Walter Dockter was born October 26, 1924 at home northwest of Goodrich to Jacob J. E. Dockter and Martha née Dockter. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith at St. James Lutheran Church, rural Goodrich, and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Denhoff. He graduated from Denhoff High School in 1942. He taught rural school while working with his father on the family farm until he was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1944. He served the majority of his military duty with the Army of Occupation in Japan, returning home in 1946, whereupon he continued teaching school and farming with his father. He married Pearl Bonnet July 25, 1947, at the Lutheran Parsonage in Goodrich. They moved to Goodrich in 1948 when he began his United States Postal Service career as a temporary clerk at the Goodrich Post Office. In 1955, he was appointed to the position of Goodrich rural mail carrier, a position he held until retirement in 1980. During that period, he also was active in many other fields such as bartender, hired farm hand, textone/sheet rock finisher, farmer, auction clerk, and income tax preparer. Upon his USPS retirement, he began an active banking career until that retirement in 1989. In 1998, they moved from Goodrich to Bismarck. Always a "joiner" and "doer", he was active in his church, community, and other professional, service, and fraternal organizations. In 1985 he was awarded the ND Letter Carrier of the Year by the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, and in 1997 the Melvin Jones Fellowship award by the Lions Club International. Many other accolades and awards were presented to him, including 40-year Goodrich Ambulance, 45-year Goodrich Fire Department, and 65-year Goodrich Legion. He was always ready for a friendly game of cards with his wife, children, grandchildren, friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Pearl Dockter, Bismarck; two sons, Greg Jackie Dockter Bismarck, and Bryon Jane Dockter, Prior Lake MN; two grandsons, Jake Kristi Dockter, Traverse City, MI; and Benjamin Dockter significant other Christen Harder, Eagan, MN; three granddaughters, Michelle Bill Vitt, St. Paul MN; Christine Christopher Anderson, Richfield, MN; and Cindy Dockter special friend Leila Gaoiran, Portland, OR; three great-grandchildren, Theresa Vitt, Catherine Vitt, Evan Dockter. He is also survived by one brother, Duane Lois Dockter, Great Falls, MT; two sisters, Marion Burck, Hettinger; and Betty Arlin Bartels, Lemmon SD; one brother-in-law, Wallace Bolte special friend Leah Berg, Bismarck; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by one daughter-in-law, Margo Dockter; two brothers and their wives, Clifford and Louise Dockter, and Theodore and Norma Dockter; two brothers-in-law, Bill Burck and Wally Schacher; one sister-in-law, Darlene Schacher-Bolte; and one great-grandson, Barrett Dockter.

Roy Walter Dockter

October 26, 1924 - January 21, 2012