Albert Arndt GEBHARDT

Albert was born at the home of his parents in rural Monango, NorthDakota and received his early education in Hamburg Township ruralschool. He also attended the State Normal and Industrial College inEllendale. In 1935 he joined the CCC and served on the constructionof a number of river dam projects. He also worked for the ASCsurveying land, and for the NYA building lockers, painting buildings,and planting trees at Arrowwood Game Refuge at Kensal, North Dakota.In 1942, Albert was drafted into the Army, Company F of the 129thInfantry. He served on the Pacific front during the war, attained therank of staff sargeant and was awarded the Purple Heart. He wasdischarged in 1945 and came home to farm and serve as an auxiliarymail carrier until 1948when he became a full time carrier. He marriedMildred Ulmer in October of 1948 and they made their home in Monango.Albert was always active in civic and community affairs. In 1965 hewas elected to the Monango Village Board of Trustees and in 1968 hebecame Mayor, a position he held until the time of his death. He wasalso active in the church and served his congregation as an Elder anda Trustee.

MEMORIES:

Daugher, Susan Gebhardt Meland: "My mom and dad met at a basketballgame. I think the game was in Monango. Dad was 10+ years older thanMom and was a WWII veteran by the time they
met. I don't know how long they dated.

Dad was a very quiet man. In retrospect I wish I had known more aboutwhat his thoughts had been. I recall that he was a very generous man. I believe that things were pretty meager for him when he was growingup (even when allowing for the standards of the era). I suspect itwas important to him to provide more for his wife and children.

He loved babies and I recall seeing him cuddling and doting overBethand Erin when they were babies. It was so sweet that it bringstearsto my eyes to think about it as I write. I wish he had had theopportunity to meet (and coo over) Paul as well.

Dad used to play Jacks with me on the dining room floor. He used tocome to my high school track meets and would yell "Go Sioux City Sue"while I was running. I have fond memories of having summer jobswhichincluded helping him with shingling, repairs etc. He and mybrother used to gross us out by eating pickled pig's feet..I stillshudder atthe image.

Just recently my siblings and I ran across a series ofvideocassettesthat had been recorded at the Monango Centennial back in1986. I took four of them home to view. It had been 14 years since Ihad seen my dad in motion or had heard his voice. I watched one tapeafter theother waiting, with desperate anticipation, to find him.Finally I found him giving the Mayor's address at the end of the lasttape. It was an unexpected experience. Time had faded thefamiliarity and I hadto watch it a few times to find Dad in hisprojected image.

Over Memorial Day Weekend Jeff, Paul and I are going to Washington,D.C. to see the dedication of the WWII Memorial. We are going tohonorDad and his heroism during the war."

Granddaughter, Erin Kirmis: "He was an awesome grandpa! He was avery gentle and kind man. I remember he liked to watch the MInnesotaTwins on TV. When I came to visit he used to take me fishing.Sometimes I would come and stay a week with him and grandma and wewould go out to eat a lot. Grandpa had a big sweet tooth and liked toeat pies and candy bars. I remember he liked to pick out cars and hehelped my mom find one of her first nice cars. When Beth and I werelittle he loved to play with us and always helped to calm us down whenwe were fussy."

Brother in law, Benjamin Ulmer: "I met Albert as I came home after mydischarge from the service after WWII. As I opened the door tothehouse on the farm and walked in, I found there was someone behindit. I closed the door and introduced myself as I shook hands and hereplied, " Hi, Shane Tail", a nickname sometimes given to a Lieutenantof the Army. I had never seen Albert before but I guess Millieintroduced him.

I remember he was so loyal to the rural mail carrier service and thecustomers. If the weather was bad or there was much snow, he wouldsometimes take the mail up to the house even if he had to walk. Healways seemed to have other activities on the side such as farming orbuilding houses. He also was proud of his opportunity to be Mayor ofMonango with such activities as putting in a new well and water systemandpaving the streets. He was a religious man and very active in thechurch. He could quote bible verses to prove his point of view. Weallgained for having known him."

Brother in law and wife, Milton & Avelon Ulmer: "Albert was a manofvery definite habits. For a time he had a love of macaroni andcheese. Later, he developed a passion for banana bread. It was notuncommon to hear noises in the Gebhardt kitchen at 2:00 A.M. It wasAlbert feeding his craving for banana bread that Millie had baked thatday. The gorcery stores in Ellendale never threw out spoiled bananasbecause Millie would buy all the overripe ones to bake banana breadfor Albert.

He was the only rural mail carrier we knew that could accelerate up to75 miles per hour between mailboxes, and have his brakes relined everythree months! Albert loved babies. At family gatherings, no babyeverwas left to cry. Albert was there to hold them. He also loved toplay cards and eat. One Christmas Eve, we sent some rosettes andother goodies over to the house for the family. Millie was busy atchurch for a while and when she got home, the rosettes were alreadygone!"

Niece, Kathie Ulmer Ketterling, Hay: "Albert was a fun-loving,family-oriented man. He was always busy...a fisherman, a mailman, acarpenter."

Nephew, John Ulmer: "Mostly, I remember Albert as the quiet, kindlyuncle who wouldn't hurt a soul. He was always willing to sit downwith us kids at holidays and play games with us. When it came to cardgames, he was a formidable opponent, especially at Pinochle. He wasalways a gracious winner, and took the time to teach us tips andstrategies so that we could get better."

Sister in law, Monica Ulmer Hallerud: "I was gone from North Dakotasomewhere in the middle 50's so I wasn't around Albert that muchexcept when we came home for visits. I remember Albert as a ratherquiet,private person, not much for idle conversation, though he wasfriendly when asked questions about his work or family. He lovedbabies andyoung children and I'm sure he was a wonderful daddy to hiskids. Hewas a real "softie" with the little ones and found it hard tosay "no," if they asked for anything. He had deep feelings for familyand tradition. I do remember him coming over to the farm when he wascourting Millie and he was fun loving and liked to tease her."

Nephew, Eric Hallerud: "I don't have a lot of specific memories ofUncle Albert. He was kind of quiet. As a kid I was more interested ingoofing around with my cousins than talking with the adults. I recallwe went fishing once (or maybe we just talked about going?). I canseehim right now sitting in the living room of the house in Monangowatching a Twins game on TV."

Sister in law, Gertrude Ulmer Anderson: "I used to enjoy visiting atAlbert and Millie's when they lived in Monango. Albert loved todrivearound the countryside on Sunday afternoons just to look at thefarmsand the fields. I remember when they bought and moved an oldhouse into town and how hard we worked to scrape the faded wall paperfrom all the rooms and get it ready for painting. Albert was a greatbrother in law and was always willing to help out. I remember Alberthelped with the chores on the farm when Dad was laid up after being inthehospital, unfortunately he wasn't so familiar with our hayloft andwhen he was putting hay down for the cows, he lost his footing andfell through the opening. He ended up with some broken ribs and wehad twouseless men laying around the house!

I also remember that Albert was a devout man and a good Christian. Ihave a memory from his funeral that I have not shared with anyoneexcept Millie when I stayed on after his death. The weather was windyandit was getting quite cold as we were standing under the canopy forthe graveside service. Jean was next to me and she was verydistraughtand didn't want her dad to be buried because he would be socold. AsI tried to reassure her, I saw an image of Albert raise upabove the casket where he was suspended and surrounded with a brightlight, justlike the glow of a burner on a gas range. This experienceleft me with a reassured faith and a great respect for my brother inlaw. I hope somehow, that feeling of reassurance was extended to Jeanas well."

Niece, Gwen Anderson Struble: "Uncle Albert always talked loud andfast! It seemed that when we visited in Monango, he would tease Susanquite a bit and I remember being fascinated by the way he pronouncedthe "s" in her name. I also remember him working out in the garageandtaking naps on the couch in the living room. I believe he snored abit and we would tip-toe past so as not to wake him."

Niece, Sandra Anderson Bolduc: "I remember spending a lot of timeinMonango when we lived in Kulm, but I probably spent most of my timeplaying with Jean and Sue upstairs, so didn't spend much time aroundAlbert. I do remember that he had a jolly laugh and loved to talk.He had a very distinctive voice. Not much else comes to mind."