Bruce Birdsall

A Funeral Service for Bruce “Sam” Birdsall, 83, longtime resident of Dickinson, ND will be 10:30 a. m. , Thursday, March 3, 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church, Dickinson, with Pastors Lisa Lewton and Joe Natwick officiating. Burial will take place at 2:00 p. m. CST, Friday, March 4, 2016 in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Visitation for Sam will be from 1:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. , Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Stevenson Funeral Home with a prayer service being held at 7:00 p. m. Visitation will continue on Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 9:30 a. m. to 10:30 a. m. at the church. Sam passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at St. Benedict’s Health Center following a short illness. Bruce “Sam” Birdsall was born February 5, 1933 in Dickinson, the son of Fred P. and Helen (Culver) Birdsall. He grew up and attended school in Gladstone; graduating from Gladstone High School in 1951. While in school, Sam enjoyed playing basketball and was named All City Center in 1949, 1950, and 1951. On September 17, 1953, Sam enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed at the Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, AK and received the National Defense Service Medal of Honor. He was honorably discharged on July 8, 1955 at Fort Lewis, WA. On June 16, 1956, Sam and Peggy Bergstresser were united in marriage in San Diego, CA. Sam and Peggy returned to Dickinson and he began his career with the United States Postal Service. Sam retired from the USPS in 1990 after 28 years of service as a mail carrier. Following semi-retirement, he began working for Federal Express in Dickinson and Ohm Funeral Home in Bowman. Sam also enjoyed working for Price-Murphy Funeral Home for several years before spending the last 12 years working as a funeral assistant with Stevenson Funeral Home. Sam had a passion for sports and could always be found front and center at sporting events for his children and grandchildren. He loved baseball and was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and served as Chairman for the State of North Dakota American Legion overseeing baseball activities. Sam was a devoted fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Beach Buccaneers. Sam also enjoyed bowling and was inducted into the Dickinson Bowling Hall of Fame. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church; serving as Head Usher and Sunday school teacher, Blue Hawk Booster Club; receiving the Loyalty Award, American Legion Post #3, 40-8 Voiture 696 Chef de Gare, and a Life Member of the Elks Lodge 1137. Sam is survived by his wife of 59 years, Peggy; sons, Michael (Jenny) of Cupertino, CA, and Dodie of Boise, ID; daughters, Cassie (Spud) Thompson of Dickinson, Carolyn (Bob) Fischer of Bismarck, and Stephanie (Rory) Farstveet of Beach; seven grandchildren, Jess (Cindy) Thompson, Cory Thompson, Scott (Amber) Thompson, Hannah Farstveet, Gunnar Farstveet, Molly Farstveet and Hawken Farstveet; five great-grandchildren, Nikola, Roiel, CorrieJean, Mallory, and Cally; brothers, Rodger (Connie) of Sonora, CA, and Jim (Jeri) of Overland Park, KS; and sisters, Arlys (Milo) Dullum of Dickinson, Peggy (Don) Jones of Dickinson, and Lynne Reinhiller of Bowman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Helen; daughter-in-law, Marleen Feng; and brother-in-law, Vernon Reinhiller. In lieu of flowers, Sam would prefer memorials to be given to DSU Heritage Foundation, 291 Campus Drive, Box 219, Dickinson, ND 58601 or St. John Lutheran Church, 146 6th Ave West, Dickinson, ND 58601.


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Burial Date: March 3, 2016
Church St. John's Lutheran Church

Funeral Service: Thursday: St. John Lutheran Church, Dickinson, ND