Alvin Fjeldheim

Pollock - Funeral services for Alvin Fjeldheim, 75, of Pollock will be at 10 AM, Thursday, January 11, 2024, at the Pollock Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Spring Creek Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 5 PM Wednesday with a prayer service at 7 PM at the church. Alvin passed away Friday, January 5, 2024, at the Avera Eureka Healthcare Center.

Alvin Leroy Fjeldheim was born March 20, 1948, to Andrew and Arlouine (Freeman) Fjeldheim, in Linton, ND. He attended the Solomonson Country School until the fifth grade when the family moved into town in 1957. Following graduation from Pollock High School in 1966, he attended SDSU, Brookings, SD graduating in 1971, with a degree in Animal Science/Business Option. While at SDSU, he was involved with ROTC and was proud to manage the college rodeo.

On April 17, 1971 he married his high school sweetheart Bernadette Weinzirl. They spent the next two years in Killeen, Texas, where he was a 1st Lt. with the US Army. The couple's first son, Paul, was born at Ft. Hood. When Alvin tried calling home to notify the grandparents, he had much difficulty trying to reach them. The operator kept telling him all the lines were down due to flooding. He told her he was calling South Dakota, and there were no floods there! She then informed him of the Rapid City flood. They returned to Pollock in 1973, where he started a farming/ranching operation, and also started a used car dealership, Fjeldheim Sales. Their second son, Jeff, was born in Mobridge, SD in 1977.

Alvin was very active in local, state, and national boards. Some former community involvements include: Pollock Farmer's Elevator Board, Pollock Volunteer Fire Department (27 years), Pollock American Legion Post, Pollock School Alumni, Pollock Economic Development Board, Pollock All-School Reunion, Citizen's Against Drugs, Past mayor of Pollock (1984-1987), Campbell County Soil Conservation Board, Campbell County Planning Board, Crop Improvement Board Assoc., Farm Bureau, Campbell County Republican Party, Jaycees, Pollock Men's Club, lifelong member of Pollock Lutheran Church where he served on the council and was a Sunday School teacher. He was also a car salesman for Deiberts in Eureka, SD.

He was a South Dakota member to the National Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) for 20 years, working with the Land-Grant Universities and Colleges throughout the United States. During this time with CARET, Alvin serving as vice president, was the 1992 National Budget liaison to the National Assoc. of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, and a director to the CARET Extension Board representing 14 states in the north central region.

Alvin became a member of the Campbell County Extension Board in 1979. He received the South Dakota Friend of Extension Award from the Alpha Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi in 1986. He received the National Friends of Extension Award in 1999. He also helped to obtain state and federal funding for the construction of the Northern Plains Bio-Stress Lab at SDSU. He was a Campbell County commissioner from 1993-2016.

The family became complete when Paul married Brandy Vanden Hoek in 2008, and Jeff married Jennifer Rieck in 2006. They were blessed with three grandchildren, Katelynn, Dylan, and Aubree, and three grandpets, Neko, Harley, and Daisy. There were lots of miles shared together going to all the school and sporting events, but worth every minute!

Alvin, also known as "Tookie", enjoyed politics, farming, music, reading, sports events, car auctions, hunting, trading vehicles and machinery, telling stories with his infections laugh, and spending time with family. Family was his life and he always had a strong work ethic. On December 12, 2023 Alvin become a resident of the Avera Eureka Healthcare Center, where he resided until his passing.

Alvin is survived by his wife Bernadette of 52 years, sons Paul & Brandy, Jeff & Jennifer; grandchildren, Katelynn, Dylan, & Aubree all of Pollock, SD; Sisters-in-law: Rita Fjeldheim of Selby, SD; Phyllis Fjeldheim of Pollock, SD; Holly Fjeldheim of Herreid, SD; Bea Goetz of Java, SD; Brothers & sister-in-law Joe & Wendy Weinzirl of Mandan, ND, plus numerous nephews, nieces, & cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew & Arlouine; Brothers, Clarence (Orland), Kenneth, Earl, Ernest, Larry, Shervin, Andrew Jr., and Michael (Jim); Sisters Delores Joyce (1934), and Evelyn Quenzer, Brother's-in-law Henry Quenzer, Jerry Goetz, John (Lloyd) Grad, Stanley Weinzirl; Sisters-in-law Judy & Gladys, and Joan Grad , Janice Weinzirl and In-laws, Joe & Ella Weinzirl.

Alvin's sense of humor was spread far & wide, and he loved nothing better than hearing a good story and repeating his ethnic Norwegian Ole & Lena stories. Oh, by the way, have you heard the one about Ole & Lena when they............