W. W. "Wally" Kroeber

W.W “Wally” Kroeber passed away on July 31, 2017, at Touchmark in Bismarck, ND. The funeral service will be 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, at McCabe United Methodist Church, 1030 N 6th St., with Rev. Mark Ehrmantraut officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Wednesday, August 2, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND. Wally was born on October 2, 1924, in Napoleon, N.D., the son of Adam and Mabel (Hugelen) Kroeber, where he graduated from high school in 1942. He served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946, and saw service as a navigator in the South Pacific Theater of operations where he reached the rank of First Lieutenant. Wally received the American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, two bronze stars and the WWII Victory Medal. He attended the University of North Dakota and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree in electric engineering. On November 26, 1950, Wally married Blanche Wentz in Napoleon, ND. After a brief career with Ulteig Engineers in Bismarck and the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, Wally joined MDU on December 1, 1952 in Williston, ND, as an Electrical Engineer. In January of 1964, he was promoted to General Construction Superintendent for electric operations in northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. In May of 1982 his title was changed to Vice President of Power Supply, a position he held until his retirement on November 1, 1989. Until the last few years, Wally and Blanche were active members at McCabe United Methodist Church where Wally sang in the choir for over 35 years. He was also a member of the Bismarck Elks #1199, the American Legion, a Registered Professional Engineer, past President of the North Central Electric Association, a past member of Edison Electric Institute, Midcontinent Area Power Pool Executive and Management Committee and past chairman of Dakotas-Montana Power Suppliers Group. In his spare time, Wally enjoyed golf, building and flying radio controlled model airplanes, woodworking photography and traveling. Wally is survived by his wife, Blanche; his children, Bridget (Dave) Kjorstad of Williston, ND, and Kent (Sue) Kroeber of Denver, CO; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, who will all miss him dearly. Wally was preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers, Vance and Gordon; and his sisters, Virginia Foltz and Lenore Steinhaus.