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- [S927] Obituary.
Bismarck Tribune
March 27, 2003
Bismarck ND
Elmer J. Dewald, 78, Bismarck, died March 25, 2003, in a Bismarck medical center. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Dr. Bradley Stoltenow and Rev. Dr. Alwin Reimnitz officiating. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, with military honors by the VFW Post 1326 Honor Guard.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Bismarck Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Elmer was born in Fredonia, N.D., on May 7, 1925, to Adam and Dorothy (Oberlander) Dewald. He was reared and educated in Logan County. He married Helen Horsager in 1943. The same year he was inducted into the United States Army, where he served at Camp Wallace, Texas, and Camp Miles Standish, Miss. His overseas service was in England, France, Germany and Belgium, and ended with his being wounded in the Battle of the Bulge for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. He entered Percy Jones General Hospital at Battle Creek, Mich., where he received a medical discharge.
While living in Napoleon, Elmer was elected county judge and held that position for 13 years. He was also the veterans' service officer. Elmer was a member of the Napoleon Lions Club, serving as president in 1961. He was a member of the American Legion, where he became the Fifth District Commander. Elmer spent many hours working on the first American Legion Club building. He was president of the County Judges Association from 1959 to 1961. While serving as scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts in Napoleon, six boys attained the rank of Eagle Scout, including his son, Derrald, and two sets of twins.
Elmer, Helen and family moved to Bismarck in 1962, where Elmer was employed by the North Dakota Supreme Court as the law librarian. He continued being active in the Boy Scouts during which time his son, John, earned the rank of Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow. He joined and became very active in the Disabled American Veterans. He was elected state commander of the DAV in 1975. He was a member of the International War Veterans Alliance, where he held the office of president and international director. Elmer joined the Bismarck Lions Club in 1962, where he continued his involvement in club activities. He held the office of club secretary for a number of years, was club president and zone chairman. He was elected district governor for 1974-75 and was chairman of the Board of Governors in 1975 and 1976. Elmer attended many Lions state, multiple district, and national conventions.
After 29 years of service with the Supreme Court, Elmer retired May 1, 1990. He continued his involvement with Lions and veterans' work. Elmer and Helen enjoyed traveling and visiting family and taking in confirmations, graduations and other special events.
Elmer is survived by his wife, Helen; two sons and daughters-in-law, Derrald and Evon Dewald, Moorhead, Minn., and John and Gail Dewald, San Antonio, Texas; six grandchildren, Amy Dewald, Cari Drees, James Dewald, Jay Dewald, Christian Dewald and Alyssa Dewald; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Reuben Dewald; one sister, Viola (Andrew) Olson; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter-in-law, Ann Dewald; four brothers, William, Fred, Albert and Ervin; and two sisters, Helen Otterstetter and Esther Massaro.
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1925 - 2003 (77 years)