Alex Freier

Alex Freier, age 96, of Draper, died Sunday, March 12 at Avera Maryhouse in Pierre, S.D.

 

Alex was born on September 17, 1920, to Rudolf and O’tilla Freier on a farm north of Draper where he grew up and attended country school.

 

Alex married Jean Cox ofPierre on September 14, 1948. Alex and Jean were married for 65 years and spent all but the last few on their farm northeast of Draper. They had three children.

 

Alex was very proud of his farm near Draper and his round barn where he raised sheep and planted wheat for many years. He only purchased John Deere tractors and Chevy vehicles. Upon semi-retiring he bought a team of horses, fixed up his wagon and joined the wagon train starting with the Centennial wagon train. He traveled to all parts of South Dakota on many trial rides, which was truly one of the highlights of his life. Alex also walked up Crazy Horse; what’s amazing about that is he was almost 80 years old and was wearing cowboy boots!

 

Alex was also an active member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Draper and enjoyed playing 500 any chance he got.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife Jean, parents Rudolf and Tillie; four sisters: Grace Schamber, Emma Bahr, Ester Keyes and Katherine Parsley and three brothers: Hank, Ed and Jim.

 

Survivors include daughter Sharon (Chuck) Pietrus of Pierre; sons Ray and Randy Freier of Draper; sister Helen Doeden of Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren: Jennifer (Steve) Bagley of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Jesse Baker of Las Vegas, Nev., Craig (Rebecca) Freier of Greeley, Colo., Stephanie (Brian) Williams of Black Hawk, S.D., and Doug (Megan) Freier of Omaha, Neb.; four great-grandchildren: Travis, Brooklyn, Axel and Alexandria and many nieces and nephews.

 

Memorials may be directed to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Draper.

 

Services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 16 at the Draper Auditorium with viewing one hour prior to services. Burial will be at Draper Cemetery.

 

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Isburg Funeral Chapel.  Online condolences may be made at www.isburgfuneralchapels.com