Allen Almer

Allen Almer, 63, lived life with a smile on his face and a joke to tell. His happy disposition made the world a better place in which to live. Allen was born January 2, 1953, in Harvey, North Dakota, the son of Marlys (Thompson) and Alvin Almer. On August 13, 2016, he died peacefully at his home north of Tuttle, where he farmed and ranched his entire life. Allen relished meeting and visiting with people of all ages and could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. He was always full of questions, jokes and stories that would leave people laughing and shaking their heads. Even if you only met Allen once, it would be a memorable meeting. Allen was blessed with a kind and helpful heart, which made him an exceptional family man, friend and neighbor. In his younger days, Allen graduated from Tuttle High School and the University of Mary. He enjoyed sports, especially basketball and softball, and was a very good athlete. Or to hear him tell it, he was, “the total package”! He worked hard on the farm at a young age and continued throughout his life to work at a breakneck pace, while always making time for family and friends. He enjoyed taking meticulous care of his lawn and trees as well as his mother’s farm yard. He had a close relationship with his remote control, recliner, and phone, spending time in the evenings making calls to visit and laugh with friends. If you were his 27th best friend, you might be called five times in one night. He loved candy; both eating it and sharing it with all the little kids he befriended through the years. In a rare moment of good judgment, Allen married Myra Trautmann, his best friend, (and a topic of many of his jokes through the years-bless her heart) on June 25, 1976. This past June, they celebrated their 40th anniversary. Allen liked to introduce Myra as “his first wife”. Allen was fiercely proud of his two children, Morgan and Marin. Despite his influence, they appear to have turned out fairly normal, inheriting their Dad’s great sense of humor and quick wit. He was a great Dad, filling their lives with teasing and joking and setting an example of how to be happy and enjoy life. Allen was definitely in his element when he was with his kids and their significant others, Kim Koenders, and Josh Opp. It had to have been divine intervention that sent Kim and Josh to become a part of the Almer family and Allen thought the world of both of them. Allen was over the moon excited about becoming a grandpa in August. He was definitely one of the happiest grandpas-to-be to ever walk the face of the Earth. He is now a proud Grandpa watching over his twin grandsons who were born August 15th. Allen is survived by his wife, Myra; his son Morgan, and Kim Koenders, Fargo; his daughter Marin Opp and son-in-law Josh Opp and twin grandsons Vincent Allen and Edward William, Hillsboro; his mother Marlys Almer, Tuttle; his favorite sister Joni Magstadt (Tracy), Tuttle; his brother Wes Almer and family, Tuttle; father-in-law Bill Trautmann, Robinson; brothers-in law, Clyde Trautmann, Mandan, and Kelly Trautmann, (Sandy), Larimore; niece Brooke DelVecchio (Mark), Vail, Colorado; and nephew Drew Magstadt (Tiffany), Ames, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his father, Alvin Almer, and his mother-in-law, Judy Trautmann. In Allen’s memory we ask that you bring a little more happiness into the world with your smile and the telling of a good joke or two. God bless you all. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 31, at 11:00 AM at English Lutheran Church in Tuttle with Pastor Valerie Kinlan officiating. Cremation has taken place and family will greet visitors on Tuesday, August 30, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM followed by a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Eastgate Steele Chapel.