Alice Rudrud

Alice Violet Rudrud, Bismarck, our loving mother, passed away at Sanford Heath on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018, at the age of 95.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, December 17, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Darrel Aleson officiating.

Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. There will be no visitation, cremation has taken place.

She was born on her grandparents’ farm outside Bowman, ND, during a snowstorm on March 9, 1923, to Oliver and Florence (Henry) Stoen. Later on the family moved to Bismarck, where Alice’s dad found work during very tough times. She attended Will-Moore Elementary School and later on at Bismarck High School she started dating Bower Eugene Rudrud, whom she would later marry in Douglas, AZ, on December 24, 1942. Dad was stationed there in the Army Air Corps at a nearby airbase. Mom worked there as a civilian doing secretarial duties. Their son David was born there. For a time Alice was also employed at Lockheed Aircraft in Los Angeles, CA. After the war came to an end Mom and Dad made their home in San Diego. Dad went to work at Bolldrick’s Shoe Store while Mom stayed at home to take care of their first-born, David. Later, when her dad suffered a stroke, Alice and Bower returned to Bismarck, ND, to be closer to family.

Dad’s love of photography soon led to the founding of Rudrud Studio in 1951. By then, Alice had her second son, Eric, but she continued to work in the studio with her partner in life, welcoming customers at the front desk, scheduling sittings, retouching pictures in the back room, helping brides-to-be in the dressing room, and developing photos in the darkroom with Dad. Their first home was a humble basement apartment on Avenue B, then in early 1956 they bought a house on north Mandan Street, where their son, Eric, continues to reside to this day. Early on Dad purchased a small plot of land on Lake Isabel for fifty dollars where they built a lovely cottage that he and Alice enjoyed together for many years. Alice’s son, David, continues to look after the property there. They also looked forward to visiting their winter home in Fountain Hills, AZ, for 14 wonderful years. And she continued to have a special affection for dogs and cats all of her life.

Alice is survived by her two sons, Eric L. Rudrud, Bismarck, and David O.Rudrud, Scottsdale, AZ; sister, Barbara Abfalter, Bismarck; daughter-in-law, Sherry Rudrud; grandsons, Greg and Peter Rudrud and their wives, Brenda and Tyra, respectively; great-grandsons, Corey, Cameron, Quinn, Mason, and Brock; great-granddaughters, Delaney and Krista; nephew, Curt Abfalter; niece, Carol (Abfalter) Huck; niece, Julie (Abfalter) Meyer; niece, Jody Barbie, nephew, Richard Barbie; and nephew, Steve Barbie.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Bower E. Rudrud; her parents, Florence and Oliver Stoen; and her sister, Joyce Barbie.

Memorials in Alice’s name may be given to the Central Dakota Humane Society, 2104 37^th St., Mandan, ND, 58554, or online at cdhs.net.