Alexander "Sandy" Hager

Alexander “Sandy” Hager, 63, Judson, died June 28, 2018, at Sanford Health, Bismarck. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, July 6, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. There will be a time of sharing at 7:00 pm Thursday, July 5, at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. Burial will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, July 6, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Sandy was born July 25, 1954, to Alexander “Red” Hager and Regina “Babe” Hager, in Linton, ND, prior to the family’s move to Bismarck, ND. He was one of two sons and four daughters; his siblings were Rod Hager, Patty (Jody Dawson), Shirley (Wendal Dawson), Debbie (Dennis Sailer), and Sharon (Lyle Chellin). From an early age Sandy showed a love of horses that would follow him through life. He enjoyed being involved with 4H and showing his horses at the State Fair. This love of horses would include him raising and selling horses, getting involved as a 4H leader himself, teaching his children his love of horses and helping them show horses, and being a judge for horseshows. Sandy always took his duties as a horse show judge very seriously trying to be fair to all as well as making sure he had something nice to say about all the contestants and trying to make sure the children had fun wherever he went. For this, he was a favored judge and would often return to horseshows on an annual basis. Sandy attended St. Mary’s High School, and was involved in sports. It was there he met several of his life long friends and the love of his life, Deborah Schlafman. After a not-so-brief interrogation by Debbie’s grandfather, George Skaff, Sandy continued his courtship of Debbie (which it is certain his children are thankful that he had the courage to do!). Debbie and Alex dated after high school. It was at this time that Sandy decided to enroll in the Army. Sandy’s enlistment led to a posting in Germany. Prior to going overseas, Sandy and Debbie decided to commit to their love and were married. The celebration of their marriage happened a week apart from his best friend’s marriage, Dave Bauman. Each man served as the best man for the other in what was described as a two-week period of brief moments of insignificant sobriety! They had fun to say the least. After this, Sandy and Debbie left for 1 1/2 years in Germany. Sandy was a fitness instructor on base. During this time as newlyweds, Sandy and Debbie traveled the German countryside taking tours and visiting different castles. Both always remembered this time fondly. Sandy and Debbie decided upon their return stateside to start a family. Not long after their eldest child Justin (JD) was born. Coty and Brock were soon to follow. After Brock, the family moved out to the family farm in Judson, ND where Sandy was the self-proclaimed mayor for years and years. Sandy absolutely loved living on the farm and the first years on the farm were filled with transforming it so he could raise horses and teach his children all about farm life, which included making enough hay to still make his children sick. Sandy loved his time on the bailer and would often boast about his square bales. Sandy was involved in the New Salem Community. He was a Cub Scouts Leader for years while JD and Brock attended Cub Scouts. He was a long serving member on the Morton County Fair Board. He loved helping out whenever he could which included being a fixture for years at the East-West Wrestling Tournament. Sandy was always a hard-worker, which he passed down to his children. Sandy also loved social gatherings. With friends and family, he could joke with the best of them into all hours of the night. He loved making people laugh and his stories and jokes will live on in the hearts of all who loved him. Sandy truly loved two social events that happened each year. This would be fish camp in the spring in the woods of northern Minnesota at the camp of Bill Doherty and fall pheasant hunting at the farm. For those who knew Sandy he would get excited for these events about a month beforehand and packing would start about two-weeks in advance. He truly loved all the joking and comradery that was had with these two events over the years. Sandy was blessed with six grandchildren, Mya, Mason, Izzy, Carley, Elliot, and Haley, who called him ‘papa.’ Having grandchildren transformed Sandy. He absolutely loved his time with his grandchildren, whether it was bird-watching with them on the farm, or fishing for bullheads. His grandchildren brought him years of laughter. Sandy will be sorely missed as he was loved by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, his three children, Justin “JD” (Kristin), Coty (Monte) Sicble, and Brock (Stephanie); his grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Marilyn Schlafman; and his siblings. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Rod; as well as loved ones on his wife’s side.