Alice Marie Puppe

Alice M. Puppe, age 94, Grand Forks, North Dakota, formerly of Neche and Cavalier, North Dakota, passed away on February 21, 2024 at Valley Senior Living on Columbia Road, Grand Forks, ND. A funeral will be held at a later date. 

Alice Marie Sando, the daughter of Adolph and Esther (Anderson) Sando was born October 15, 1929 on the family farm near Grafton, North Dakota. Alice grew up living on the farm and graduated from Grafton High School in 1948.  After graduation she worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone in Grafton. Alice married Clifford O. Puppe on June 15, 1949. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before he passed away in 2014.

Alice’s faith, family and friends were of utmost importance to her.  She was an active member in the church life at Christ Lutheran Church, Neche, North Dakota and in later years at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Cavalier, North Dakota. Alice loved to sing and she participated in singing at countless church events.  

She was considered a “best friend” by her adult children who often sought her wisdom and enjoyed her sense of humor throughout their lives. 

Alice enjoyed people and had many lifetime friends while living in Neche, Mapleton, West Fargo and Cavalier, North Dakota, Bonita Springs, Florida and Mesa, Arizona. While living in Neche, across the street from the school, it seemed her coffee pot was usually on with friends sitting around the kitchen table enjoying homemade cookies, bars, or caramel rolls with their coffee. Often times her friends would come in the morning and stay and visit throughout the day.  

People found her very open and accepting to any age and felt comfortable in her presence. She was a good friend to many. Her sense of humor was enjoyed by many of those same friends. They would reminisce about silly events and pranks shared between them and it would continue to bring giggles, laughter and smiles to this day.

Alice was also a “mother mentor” to many of the young women teachers in Neche, who had new infants, as she had already had five chances of trial and error with her own fussy babies.

She was active in the Neche School PTA, Ladies Aide, was a Cub Scout Leader, taught Sunday school and Bible school, and was involved in several Bible Study groups throughout the years in the many communities in which she lived. In her day, Alice participated in and loved the sport of curling.

After Clifford’s retirement they spent several winters in Bonita Springs, Florida, followed by 20 plus winters in Mesa, Arizona, at Venture Out Resort. It was at Venture Out that they were able to spend quality time with many of their lifelong friends who also wintered there. Lawn bowling became one of Alice’s favorite activities.

Alice moved to Grand Forks in 2016 to live at Park Wood Place. In December 2018 she moved to Valley Senior Living on Columbia Road and resided in the Riverside neighborhood until she passed away. The family would like to thank the entire Riverside staff for the loving care provided to her the last years of her life. Our words can never convey our gratitude for the compassionate, loving and good care she received.

Alice is survived by her children, Gail (Dan) Nelson Apache Junction, Arizona, Bonnie (William) Kokal, Miramor Lakes, FL, Clarinda (Richard) Brown, Bathgate, North Dakota, Patricia Puppe, Mesa, Arizona, and Clinton (Liz) Puppe, Broomfield, Colorado, grandchildren, Shanna Olds, Kalie (Chris) Shawstad, Melissa (Troy) Feeken, Michael (Kelly) Brown, Clifford Puppe and Clayton Puppe, great-grandchildren, Briana (Ben) Wirkus, Kyle, Caitlyn and Ava Shawstad, Olivia and Emmalee Olds, Chase Feeken, Kasyn and Myleigh Brown, and Autumn Puppe, great great grandson Braxon Wirkus, sister, Avis (Loyd) Swaim, Mead, Oklahoma and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Clifford, her parents Adolph and Esther Sando, and siblings Audin, Ethel, Bert, Lillian, Lorraine, Delores, and Dorothy.