Albert "Al" E. Bartz

Dr. Albert Edward Casper Bartz, uncle, educator, and mentor, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at St. Catherine’s North in Fargo, North Dakota, under the compassionate care of hospice.

Al was born on December 11, 1933, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Albert F. and Elsie (Meyer) Bartz. Because the Bartz family moved frequently, Al attended several schools before he graduated from Casselton High School in 1951. Al's higher education began at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he earned his first degree in 1955. It was also during his time at Concordia that he met Solveig Amanda Moe, who would become the love of his life and partner. They married August 16, 1957. Al's pursuit of knowledge soon led him to the University of North Dakota, where he earned a Master's in Psychology followed in just two years by a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Arizona.

In 1961, Al began a distinguished fifty-year professorship in the Psychology Department at Concordia College. His impact also reached beyond the classroom through visiting scholar programs, including a sabbatical at the University of Denver and a NASA fellowship at Stanford. Al's extensive work in research, supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Mental Health, resulted in numerous publications in every decade since the 1950s, including a notable contribution to the journal Science. He was awarded the 1994 Outstanding Teacher of Undergraduate Psychology award from the Minnesota Psychological Association and Concordia College’s Flaat Distinguished Service Award.

Most importantly, though, Al was a devoted teacher inspiring countless students over the years with his instruction in psychology, research methods, perception, health psychology, and most notably, statistics. His textbook, Basic Statistical Concepts, now in its fourth edition, continues to be a valuable resource for students.

Al’s service to others reached beyond the workplace. He and Solveig offered a supportive and caring home for young people in need through foster care. Their family life included activities at Trinity Lutheran Church, and they often traveled and enjoyed visiting with friends and family. When it was time for relaxation, they played tennis, went skiing, or retreated to serene summers at their beloved cabin on Cotton Lake accompanied by their loyal beagles.

Al leaves behind a legacy of quiet humility, scholarly dedication, and gentle strength. His profound influence as both an educator and mentor will be fondly remembered by those whose lives he touched.

He is survived by nephew Carl (Karli) Block-Mukilteo WA; nieces Rebecca (Scott) Parkin-Fargo ND and Dianne (Robert Loney) Gunderson and Cynthia (Mike Olson) Moe both of Devils Lake ND; nephew Blair (Shelly) Moe-Minneapolis; great niece Jessica (Craig) StClair and daughter Veronica Stevie-Grand Forks ND; and great nephews Andrew Parkin, Ryan Parkin, and Shawn (Rachel Green) Parkin-Arvada CO.

He was preceded in death by his wife Solveig, his parents, sister Marlys Wieland Charron, brothers- and sister-in-law Harold Wieland, Ronald Charron, Martin T. Moe, and Arthur L. and Ruth Moe; and aunts and uncles.

A celebration of Uncle Al's life will be held on Monday, September 23, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minnesota. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm, and the funeral service will take place at 2:00. Memorials may be directed to Concordia College, Trinity Lutheran Church, Churches United for the Homeless at 1901 1st Avenue N, Moorhead MN 56560-2307, or the charity of your choice.

Al will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

The service will be livestreamed here on Al's webpage.