Alexander "Alex" A. Steinwand

Alexander “Alex” A. Steinwand, 97, of Ellendale, ND died on Saturday, December 15 at Prince of Peace Care Center in Ellendale. A celebration of life is 11:00am Saturday, December 22 at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale with Pastor Paul Henschen officiating. Visitation is 1 hour prior to church services. Burial will be held at a later date. Please dress casual or in your favorite sport jersey. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Ellendale American Legion Baseball, 61 West Lake Drive, Ellendale, ND 58436. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Alex was born on January 3, 1921 in rural Merricourt, ND, the first child of Ludwig and Ottilia (Mammel) Steinwand. Alex was baptized on Jan. 22, 1921 at Peace Lutheran Church in Merricourt. He was educated at a rural school in Potsdam township, and graduated 8th grade on June 5, 1936. Alex was confirmed in the Christian faith on July 11, 1937 in Kulm. Alex then joined the CCC when he was 16 and enlisted in the US Navy in 1942. While in the service, he married Erna Rasch on Dec. 9, 1945. After his discharge from the service in 1948, they lived in Merricourt for a short time, then moved to Garrison, where Alex started his career as a self-taught auto mechanic. The next few years the Steinwand’s also lived in, New Rockford, Carrington, and Kenmare, finally settling in Ellendale in 1967, where Alex was employed by Kee Brothers, Snyder Ford, and Farnam’s NAPA until retiring in 1997. Erna died in 1996, and Alex found love again, marrying Violet (Savo) Neil in May 1998. They were married until Vi’s passing in January of 2012. Later in life, Alex lived on his own, staying very active in the community until moving to Evergreen Place in Ellendale on June 1, 2018. Alex was very involved in the Ellendale community, being very active in the American Legion, in which he held many different offices, leading the Baseball program from 1971 to 1993, also serving on the state baseball committee for most of those years. He was inducted into the ND Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. He also was a Past District Commander. In 1981, he received the VIP award from the City of Ellendale and received the Governor’s Leadership Award. He was very involved with the Ellendale Centennial, a member of the Ellendale-Forbes Drill team, and was a past President of the Ellendale Historical Society. Privileged to share his life are his son Tim (Lori) Steinwand of Ellendale, sister Adeline (Fred) Karjalainen of Aberdeen. Step-daughter Faye (Chuck) Reimers of Eden Prairie, MN, Step-son Bob Neil of Great Falls, MT. Grandchildren Michelle (Mark) Anderson of Eden Prairie, MN, Doug (Darci) Neil of Great Falls, 4 Great Grandchildren, Brock and Carter Anderson, Witney (Shawn) Neil, Kody (Katie) Neil, and 2 Great-Great Grand Children, Cerek Krug and Kayden Neil, as well as many nieces and nephews. Alex was preceded in death by his parents, wives Erna and Vi, sisters Mary (Ernie) Veland, Pauline (Fred) Dunlap, Ottilia (Lee) Manly, and brother Clifford (Fern) Steinwand.