Ted Fleck

Theobalt “Ted” Fleck, 86, died May 22, 2016, in Missoula, MT. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 am Friday, May 27, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Chris Kadrmas officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, May 26, at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. Graveside service will be held at 11:00 am Friday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Ted was born April 4, 1930, on a farm located between Flasher and Solen , North Dakota to parents Michael L. and Mathilda Gerhardt Fleck. When his father died in 1937 the family, 7 children with their mother, moved to Breien, ND; then back to the farm and eventually permanently to Solen, North Dakota. There they lived in various homes before eventually residing at their grandmother Philomena Gerhardt’s (Mathilda's mother) home. Ted attended a country school, then at Breien, and then to Solen, ND. As a very young boy/man he worked for various local farmers/ranchers, helping with livestock, harvesting and various other chores. At the age of eleven he already had the responsibility of herding 360 head of sheep! In 1944, he also worked on the railroad, stating his age as being 16, rather than the actual 14 in order to get the job. Later he also worked in Bismarck and Denver, CO, and in Kansas city, MO. Due to an eye injury when he was a teenager, he often had difficulty obtaining employment, as was the case when at the age of 17 when Ted joined the U.S. Air Force. This was just as the Air Force became a separate entity from the U.S. Army. Ted found that by memorizing the last line of the eye chart he was quite capable of performing the requirements of his various military duties. He finished his education in the Air Force. He did his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Ted had a lifelong career in the Air Force. His assignments consisted of tours in Germany, Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, Labrador, California and Nebraska He was on the Air Refueling Squadron and also did fireman/rescue at the airport during the Korean War. Ted married Irma Hausamann on August 1953. They later divorced. Ted married Joan Nokleby in Missoula, Montana, on October 4, 1977. Upon completing his Air Force career as a Tech Sergeant, he and his family moved to Bismarck, North Dakota and he joined his brother Mike as a semi-truck driver. He later moved to Missoula, Mt where he continued as a trucker. He is survived by his loving wife, Joan, of 38 years who stood by his side until the very end, his children: Doreen Burdick; Bismarck; Roy (Micki) Fleck, San Antonio, Texas; Richard (Patty) Fleck, Bismarck; Teddy (Bonnie) Fleck, Springfield, Missouri; David (Cathy) Fleck; Edmond, Oklahoma, and Shawn (Missy) Fleck, Republic, Missouri, and their mother Irma Turgut, and also four step-children: Conrad/June (Michele) Nokleby, Brent (Darla) Nokleby, Teresa (John) Kafentiz, and Susan Nokleby (John) Adams. He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Brandon and Dustin Fleck; Chelsie (Tim) Boeshans, Richard Jr. Fleck; Corey, Garrett, and Gavin Fleck; Kyla and Kallie Fleck, and Kristina Kainz; four great-grandchildren, and numerous step grandchildren. Ted is also survived by his brother Steve, North Platte, NE; his sisters, Mary S. Hoff, Sacramento, CA, and Phyllis Eckroth, Mandan, ND and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Matt, Michael, and Roger, infant siblings, Anne, John, and George, and son-in-law, Wayne Burdick.