Floyd Aichele

In the rolling hills of Tuttle, ND a baby boy was born on October 2, 1933, to Fred and Tillie (Auch) Aichele. Floyd Aichele, 86, Bismarck, passed on to his eternal home on December 31, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 7, at Cornerstone Community Church, 111 E Wachter Ave, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday, January 6, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 7, at the ND Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

When Floyd was 6, his family moved to their farm south of Driscoll. He grew up learning how to be a farmer. He was always looking for something new and different and at age 17, moved to Big Timber, MT, to help his uncle ranch and raise bees. He also managed a cattle ranch for a short time.

Soon he was followed by his girlfriend Beverly Geist and they were married on December 22, 1952, in Big Timber. Because she was teaching in a rural school north of Steele, ND, they came back to ND to live. Floyd received a congratulations letter from the armed services and entered the Army in May 1953. He completed basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and then was shipped to Korea. After 16 months, he came home to his wife and a nine-month-old daughter, Tari. Together they added two sons, Larry and Scott. Floyd had one afternoon of vacation before going to work for his boss and friend, Mike Lewis. He wanted to continue in the automotive field and purchased the standard gas station in Washburn, ND, which he kept for 10 years.

Floyd and his family moved back to Bismarck. He worked as a supervisor for Kopp Standard for five years, then owned Floyd’s Kirkwood Texaco for 10 years, and Floyd’s Main Sinclair for 10 years. He decided to slow down and begin his own repair shop, Floyd’s Auto Repair for 10 years. He also sold used cars, and with his brother, Ike; rented Jartran trucks, trailers and cars.

When he had any spare time, you would find him flying his Cessna 172 or at the airport visiting pilots or watching airplanes.

Floyd loved people and never met anyone he couldn’t start a conversation with. Many could attest to the fact that a cup of coffee with Floyd was both memorable and enjoyable. The younger grandchildren and great-grandchildren waited to hear his many stories. Floyd accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior as a teenager. He knew the closeness of his church friends and grew in his walk with the Lord as he listened and read the words of God.

He was in heart and lung failure after a hospital stay in March. He went home on hospice where he was loved and visited by many. Family was there to go through this journey with him. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

He will be deeply missed and always remembered by his wife, Beverly; sons, Larry Aichele and Scott (Mary Senger) Aichele;  grandchildren, John and James LaLonde (Leah Chin-Katz), Michelle (Kadon) Hintz, Kris (Ryan) Schantz, Austin, Calvin, and Zachary Aichele; great-grandchildren, Parker, Owen, and Hannah Hintz and Kensie Schantz; his brothers, Ike and Lee Allen; sister, Shirley (Ron) Hankle; brothers-in-law, Richard (Ginny) Geist, Roger (Liz) Geist, and Benny Rath; sisters-in-law, Jo Ellen and Jean Aichele; special cousins, Marion Eastgate and Gordy Whitman; close friend, Arnola Aichele; and many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Tari LaLonde; grandson, Rusty; brothers, Glen and Roy; sister, LuElla; parents, Fred and Tillie Aichele, and his in-laws, Albert and Nellie Geist.

Floyd was an extraordinary man who left a lasting legacy.

The family would like to thank the CHI Hospice for their care and compassion for Floyd.