Alma Dewald

Alma S. Dewald, 91, died on April 30, 2023 at Eventide in Jamestown.  Alma was born April 13, 1932 at their family farm SW of Medina, ND, the daughter of Jacob G Dockter and Bertha (Mayer) Dockter.  She attended rural school in Newbury Township where she received her elementary education.  She graduated from Streeter High School in 1950.  Alma attended Valley City State Teacher College and taught rural country school for four years in Germania, Newbury and St Paul Townships.  She also worked in the Streeter State Bank. 

On June 23, 1955 Alma and Harry R. Dewald were married at First UCC Church in Gackle ND. They had three children – Daphne, Claudia, and Wade.  They farmed near Streeter for 5 years before moving to Streeter in 1960.   Following Harry’s passing in 1966, Alma worked at the Buck Café and Dewald’s Mercantile Store.  Alma then married Roland E Ruff January 1, 1968 at Hope UCC Church in Streeter, ND.  Roland had 2 children Jerome and Doreen.   Together as a blended family of seven, they lived on a family farm near Gackle, ND and later Alma and Roland moved to Jamestown.  Roland died in 1998.  In 2007, Alma married Arthur Dewald.  Alma and Art enjoyed traveling, dancing, and playing cards until his passing in 2019.    

Alma was a Stanley dealer for more than 45 years and worked at the Gackle Senior Center as a cook and at the Gackle Care Center, and for Easter Seals Goodwill in Jamestown.  She was a member of Streeter and Gackle UCC Churches, Streeter Women’s Guiding Light Society and Ruth Circle at Atonement Lutheran Church.  She was a charter member of Streeter Merry Mixers Homemakers Club and Gackle Progress Homemakers Club and a member of American Legion Auxiliary of Gackle for more than 50 years.  

Alma’s hobbies included family history, genealogy, playing cards, dancing, quilting, crafts, and gardening.   She especially enjoyed spending time with family – grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. 

Alma is survived by her son, Wade (Kathleen) Dewald, Urbandale, IA; daughters Daphne (Donald) Kane Fargo, ND; Claudia (Ritchie) Wolf, Jamestown, ND and Doreen (James) Mickelson Audubon, MN, thirteen grandchildren:  Nicholas Kane, Travis Kane, Thomas Kane, Zachary Wolf, Jacob Wolf, Spencer Dewald, Stephanie (Dewald) Elberts, Matthew Mickelson, Tyler Mickelson, Korey Mickelson, Stacy Ruff, Ryan Ruff and Robert Ruff and 16 great grandchildren, two step daughters: Arlyce (Harold) Klein and Kathleen (James) Brunner, seven step grandchildren and ten step great grandchildren, two brothers Selmer (Margaret) Dockter Chandler, AZ and Vernon (Gloria) Dockter, Rochester, MN and many nieces and nephews. 

Alma is preceded in death by her parents Jacob and Bertha Dockter, her husbands Harry Dewald, Roland Ruff and Arthur Dewald, brothers Marvin Dockter, Eldo Dockter and an infant brother Ervin, son Jerome Ruff and daughter-in-law Lydena Ruff.

Memorial may be directed to the family or sent to the funeral home.