Alan Joseph Allery Obituary

Alan Joseph Allery was born July 29, 1947. He is the son of Louis E. and Ermaline (Krebsbach) Allery and a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. He was born in Cando, North Dakota. He spent his early years on a farm near Calio, North Dakota. He attended part of his first grade in a rural country school near Calio. The family moved to St. John, North Dakota and he then attended school in Rolla and St. John. Alan was a Boy Scout, served as an altar boy at the St. John Catholic Church for several years and was active in sports in high school. He graduated from St. John High School in 1965 and went on to attend college earning a B.S. degree in Health/Business/Physical Education from Mayville State University; a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD; a M.H.A. in Hospital and Health Care Administration from the University of Minnesota; and a Doctorate degree in Research and Statistics from the University of North Dakota.

On August 2, 1969, he married Margaret DeMers, St. John. From 1970 to 1972, Alan taught Business and History and coached basketball in Lansford, ND, where his son Chris was born. In 1972 and 1973 Alan worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Belcourt, ND, where his son Aaron was born. Alan became Assistant Area Director of the Aberdeen Area Office of the Indian Health Service in Aberdeen, SD from 1973 to 1984, during which time his daughter Gina was born. He transferred to Bemidji, MN and served as Area Director of the Bemidji Area Office of the Indian Health Service until 1989. During that time he started the Kentucky Fried Chicken baseball and Bemidji Bomber basketball teams and coached the Bemidji Lions and Northwoods Lumber baseball teams. He worked for Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians where he was the Director of the Self-Governance Program from 1990 to 1991.

Alan moved to Grand Forks in 1991 and worked for Native American Programs and Student Health at the University of North Dakota. He married Kathryn Broden on September 22, 1995. Alan served as the Director for the National Resource Center on Native American Aging (located in the Center for Rural Health at UND) and the Director for Student Health at UND until his death.

Alan was active in many organizations, including the YMCA where he coordinated the YBL program and played racquetball and noon basketball. He was a board member of the North Central Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.

Alan loved all sports. Throughout his life he coached kids’ basketball and baseball teams and umpired baseball. He faithfully attended UND women’s and men’s basketball games and many nephew and nieces sporting events. He was a diehard Packers fan.

Alan enjoyed spending time with his wife and family, friends and co-workers, especially enjoying schooners at Bonzer’s with his friends and Bruce and Trish: telling stories and jokes, playing practical jokes, walking his dogs Brittney and Kola, spending time at the lake fishing, biking at Itasca and hanging out at the lake on the pontoon, camp fires, and grilling great food on his new “Big green egg.” He will be greatly missed.

Alan is survived by his wife, Kathryn; sons, Chris (Chrissy) Allery, Bemidji, MN, and Aaron (Amber) Allery, Phoenix, AZ; daughter Gina Allery, Washington D.C.; sisters Paula (Mike) Parisien, St. John, ND, Marla Boyer, St. John, ND, and Barb (Wayne) Sande, St. John, ND; his mother Ermaline Allery, St. John, ND; Grandchildren Alice and Adam Allery, Phoenix, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.

Alan was preceded in death by his father Louis E. Allery; grandparents, Joseph and Gertrude Krebsbach and Eugene and Virginia Allery & Kola his faithful walking partner.

In Grand Forks, N.D.,

Funeral Services will be Friday, July 20, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the Hope Evangelical Covenant Church, 1601 17th Ave. South, Grand Forks, ND.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7PM in Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 South 42nd St., Grand Forks. Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks.

In St. John, N.D., a funeral mass will be held Saturday, July 21, 2007 10:00 AM in the St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in St. John, ND.

Visitation will be for the hour before the service in the church.

Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery, St. John, ND. Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau, ND.

An online guest book may be signed at www.amundsonfuneralhome.com