Duane Wahl

Duane Wahl, longtime resident of Dickinson, ND, in his 87th year passed peacefully into the next life in Burnsville, MN on July 22, 2015. He was born in Bowman, ND,” at a very young age” on June 9, 1929, the second of five children to Melvin and Alvina (Rivinius) Wahl. After his father died when Duane was 9, the family moved closer to his mother’s family in Elgin, ND where he completed school. He was employed in various jobs, including working with building of the Heart Butte Dam, joined the army and was stationed at Ft. Rucker, AL. He was honorably discharged. He married Joyce Roth in 1953. They moved to Wahpeton, ND where he attended school to become an electrician. He was hired as a lineman for Montana Dakota Utilities in Dickinson, North Dakota where he was eventually promoted to the Electrical Superintendent for MDU’s Dickinson division. He retired from MDU in 1993. Duane and Joyceraised their four children in Dickinson. After retirement, they enjoyed spending time at their cabin, traveling, and many social gatherings with friends. Joyce died in 1998 shortly after their 45th wedding anniversary. Duane often said that not a day passed when he did not miss her. Duane moved to Sioux Falls, SD to be closer to his daughter Naomi and family and then to Burnsville, MN to be closer to his daughter Janel and son-in-law Terry. He was a resident at Ebenezer Ridges Care Center. In addition to the care from his family, he was lovingly cared for, respected and enjoyed by his Ebenezer family. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his wonderful singing voice and his wisdom. He taught his children the importance of hard work. He taught hunting, building and fixing things and the Wahl family motto. He showed his kids how to have fun with stilts and refrigerator boxes. He started unusual collections of sand and tarp straps and his eagle eyes were able to stop only to collect those tarp straps that were not broken. He encouraged his kids to look for more in life and from ourselves; and could always find something to laugh about and never missed an opportunity to laugh and have fun. He shared his observations and never felt he was too old to learn something including taking piano lessons at age 70. He left a litany of “Duane-isms” that will be with us forever and amazed us withhis driving abilities withBessie the cow and hydroplaning in the rain. His final lessons showed us how to live with grace and optimism, even when his physical limitations increased. In the end, he again showed us all how strong he really was. He is survived by his children and their spouses Naomi Wahl and Sam Rogers of Cape Girardeau, MI, Janeland Terry French of Eagan, MN, Tim and Carissa (Bumgarner) of Boise, ID, and Russell and Nancy (Bussier) of Dickinson. Grandchildren JeremyThorstad, Mathew, Hannah, Sarah and Zachery Hitchcock, Adam (Leigh-Ann) French, Katie (Jeff) Pelowski, Carter and Dawson Wahl, Emma and Ava Wahl, two great- grandchildren Jadyn and Ava Pelowski, and brother Gordon Wahl ofOakland, CA. He is survived also four brother-in-laws, three sister-in-laws, and several nieces and nephews and their families. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Joyce, two brothersMarlo and Rollin Wahl, one sister Joanne Roth, one son-in-law Kim Hitchcock,mother and father in-law, and several brother and sister –in laws. The family is grateful for the many people who helped care for Duane at Primrose and Prince of Peace in Sioux Falls, SD and at Ebenezer in Burnsville, MN, as his physical limitations increased. They ask that memorials be directed to Ebenezer Ridges Care Center 13820 Community Drive Burnsville MN 55337 or to the Dickinson Community Center.


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Burial Date: July 27, 2015
Church St. John's Lutheran Church

Funeral Service: Monday; St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dickinson, ND