Emilia Sophia Larson

Alan Lee Abbey was born September 25, 1941, in Beulah, Mercer Co., ND, and died December 19, 2020, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck, Burleigh Co., ND, at age 79. Buried in Saint Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Mercer Co., ND. He is the son of Oran Ralph Abbey of Milladore Twp., Wood Co., WI, and Alice Frances Herman of Glen Ullin, Mercer Co., ND.

Janice P. "Jan" Bowers was born November 25, 1944, in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR. She is the daughter of Lester Hugh Bowers of Kerkhoven, Swift Co., MN, and Mildred Pearl Pulver of Beulah, Mercer Co., ND. Lester Hugh Bowers was born February 28, 1905, in Kerkhoven, Swift Co., MN, and died July 12, 1975, in Mandan, Morton Co., ND, at age 70. Mildred Pearl Pulver was born March 31, 1908, in Beulah, Mercer Co., ND, and died January 19, 1969, in Beulah, Mercer Co., ND, at age 60.

David John Welk was born October 1, 1923, on a farm south of Zap, Mercer Co., ND, and died June 18, 1985, in Mandan, Morton Co., ND, at age 61.

Pearl Alvira Bowers was born February 20, 1927, at Beulah, Mercer Co., ND, and died September 8, 1988, in rural Mandan, Morton Co., ND, at age 61.

Alan Lee Abbey (age 22), a bachelor, and Janice P. "Jan" Bowers/Welk (age 19), a maiden, were married April 25, 1964, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND.

The link below goes to some North Dakota newspapers. Please use the Chrome browser for best results:

The 1940 U. S. Census taken on April 9, 1940, shows Orran Abbey (age 39) born in Wisconsin, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 1 year of College, and who is married but has no occupation listed, is renting his home for $15/month, and is living in the Village of Beulah, Mercer Co., ND. Living with him are: his wife, Alice Abbey (age 38) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 2 years of College; his daughter, Lois Abbey (age 13) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 7 years of School; his daughter, Lois Abbey (age 13) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 7 years of School; his daughter, June Abbey (age 11) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 5 years of School; his daughter, Lenore Abbey (age 10) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 3 years of School; his daughter, Marilyn Abbey (age 9) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 2 years of School; his son, Gale Abbey (age 7) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 0 years of School; his daughter, Dona Abbey (age 5) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 0 years of School; his son, James Abbey (age 2) born in North Dakota; his daughter, Colleen Abbey (age 5/12) born in North Dakota; and an unmarried Servant, Roger Endresson (age 21) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same Place, and with 4 years of High School, a Common Laborer in a Farming Mine.

Janice P. "Jan" Welk was born November 25, 1944, in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.

David John Welk and Pearl Alvira Bowers were married October 1, 1947, at Beulah Congregational Church, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND.

The Beulah Independent, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, Thursday, October 2, 1947

BOWERS - WELK

Miss Pearl Bowers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Bowers of Beulah, became the bride of T-Sgt. David Welk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Welk, Jr. also of Beulah, at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 1st, in the Beulah Congregational Church, that date being the groom's birthday. Rev. J. D. Warkentin read the double ring ceremony. Mrs. Herbert Kittler played the nuptial music and Miss Marilynn Easton sang "Because" and "Prayer Perfect". The bride was escorted and given in marriage by her father, & was attired in a floor-length gown of white net over silk crepe, fashioned with a braided bodice and full skirt. Her finger-tip veil was held in pace by a beaded tiara and her bouquet was of mixed roses. Her jewelry was a three-strand string of pearls. Miss Eldora Welk, sister of the groom, as maid of honor, wore a pink floor-length gown, while Miss Genevieve Bowers, as her sister's bridesmaid, was in a floor-length gown of stone blue. The groom was attended by the bride's brother, Darhl Bowers, and Kenneth Simenson of Halliday. The bride's mother wore a street length dress in medium blue while the groom's mother was dressed in leaf green. Both the mothers and the bride's attendants wore pink carnations while the fathers and the groom's attendants wore white carnation boutonnieres. Following the ceremony, a wedding supper was served to a large group of friends and relatives in the church dining room. The bride's table was centered by a three-tiered cake topped with a miniature bride and groom and was decorated in white. The couple was presented with many lovely gifts. A wedding dance was given by the couple that evening at the Dreamland Pavilion. Mrs. Welk attended Beulah High School and for a number of months has been employed at the A. W. Lucas & Co. in Bismarck. T-Sgt. Welk was in the Army for three years, serving in the ETO for many months. After his discharge he graduated from Beulah High School and again enlisted for three years in the U. S. Army. He is now clerk in the office of the Sr. State Instructor for the O. R. in Bismarck. They will make their home at 107 7th Ave. NW, Mandan. The out-of-town guests included Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Welk, Underwood; Mr. and Mrs. John Haulter, Dodge; Mrs. A. L. Newton, Jamestown; Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Pulver, Underwood; & Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Simenson, Halliday.

The Beulah Independent, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, Thursday, December 11, 1947

T-Sgt & Mrs. David Welk, Mandan

Mrs. Welk, the former Pearl Bowers, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Bowers of Beulah, and T-Sgt. Welk is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Welk, Jr., also of this city. Their wedding took place at Beulah Congregational Church on Oct. 1st, the groom's birthday. Rev. J. D. Warkentin officiated at the double ring ceremony. The newlyweds are making their home at 107 7th Ave. NW, Mandan, altho Sgt. Welk in on duty in the office of the Senior State Instructor for the O. R. in Bismarck.

The Beulah Independent, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, Thursday, December 30, 1948

FOUR GENERATIONS OF BOWERS FAMILY

George D. Bowers was born in Hardin County, Iowa 79 years ago and moved to Beulah in 1916 from Minnesota, where he farmed. In 1918, he started to work for the coal mine and power company and stayed with the company until 1927 when he retired. At the present time he is living in Portland, Oregon with one of his sons, Clifford Bowers. Lester Bowers was born in Chippewa County, Minnesota, in 1905. He began work at the mine and power company in 1920 and has remained with them since that time. He married Mildred Pulver in 1926 and now has a family of three girls and three boys: Pearl (Mrs. David Welk), Darhl, Genevieve, Yvonne, Delbert, and Wallace. All of whom are living. Mrs. David Welk (Pearl Bowers) was born in Beulah in 1927. She graduated from Beulah High School and is now living in Mandan. Her daughter, Janice, is now four years old and the fourth generation! She was born in Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Welk also has a son, Gerald, who is now 7 months old.

Picnic at Alice Abbey's backyard, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND, July, 1963. Photo courtesy of Kay Koslan.

Back row, Left to right: Alice (Herman) Abbey, bent over eating; Donna (Abbey) Stasil; Lenore (Abbey) Wetzel; June (Abbey) Dolce; Jan (Welk) Abbey; Marilyn (Abbey) Gustafson; Don Wetzel; and Stan Stasil.

Row 2, left to right: Barry Wetzel (lower left corner); and Mike Dolce, rust shirt, back seen and standing.

Row 3, left to right: front to back: Stephanie Stasil, sitting in high chair; Gary Dolce, almost hidden behind Stephanie Stasil; Cindy Gustafson; and Mark Gustafson, with bib.

Front row, left to right: Diane Lang, facing forward, Pink shorts; Kay Wetzel, facing back with orange drink, blue shirt; and Jan Gustafson, lower right corner, barely in the picture.

Kay Koslan comments: It looked my brother Barry Wetzel and my cousin Mike Dolce were up to no good because they had a long white cord. But then I recognized it was a type of child harness attached to Mark Gustafson at the front end so he wouldn't run off into the street! The only thing Barry and Mike were doing were holding onto that cord. I think it was attached to my Grandma Alice's clothes line, as they often did that to protect the kids from running off. This was especially important because there were 33 grandchildren. There were probably at least 20 in this gathering.

The Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, Burleigh Co., ND, Friday, January 3, 1964

Beulah Couple Set Engagement

JANICE WELK

Sgt. and Mrs. David Welk, Beulah, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Janice, to Alan Abbey, son of Mrs. Alice Abbey, Beulah. Miss Welk is a 1962 graduate of Highland Park, Ill., High School and presently is employed by Montana-Dakota Utilities co. in Beulah. A 1959 graduate of Beulah High School, Mr. Abbey is employed by the Knife River Coal Co. in Beulah. A summer wedding is planned.

Alan Lee Abbey (age 22), a bachelor, and Janice P. "Jan" Bowers/Welk (age 19), a maiden, were married April 25, 1964, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND.

The Beulah Independent, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, Thursday, May 14, 1964

Janice Welk - Alan Abbey Wed...

Janice Welk, daughter of Sgt. & Mrs. David Welk, Beulah and Alan Abbey, son of Mrs. Alice Abbey, Beulah, were married Saturday, April 25. Father A. J. Jungwirth celebrated the nuptial mass at 10 o'clock at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The groom's mother was organist and accompanied the groom's sisters, Mrs. Arvid Gustafson and Mrs. Delmer Flemmer, as they sang three duets. The bride wore a floor length gown of bowknot chantilace over taffeta. The bodice of scalloped sequined imported chantilly lace was designed with a high neckline and long tapered sleeves. The full skirt featured a chapel train. Her veil of silk illusion lace was held by a V-shaped crown of seed pearls and miniature flowers. She carried a white prayer book topped with white roses. Mrs. Delton Herman, Golden Valley, was matron of honor and Liana Lutz, cousin of the bride, was bridesmaid. They wore pink crystalette sheath dresses with lavender and white colonial pompons. Julie Bowers, Mandan, was flower girl. Delton Herman, Golden Valley, cousin of the groom, was best man. Groomsman was Gerald Welk, brother of the bride. Darlyle Wilmes and George Welk, Bismarck, ushered. The bride's mother wore a Royal blue sheath dress and the groom's mother wore a beige jacket dress. Each had a corsage of pink roses. Mrs. Lester Bowers and Mrs. Fred Welk, grandmothers of the bride, had pink carnation corsages. A noon dinner and reception for 175 guests was held in the church dining hall. Mrs. Arvid Gustafson and Mrs. Delmer Flemmer cut and served the wedding cake. Mrs. Bill Gutknecht, Mandan, aunt of the bride, poured coffee and Mrs. Delbert Bowers, Sidney, Mont., served punch. Mrs. Gale Abbey, Sidney, Mont., kept the guest book and Mrs. Gust Morlock and Mrs. Wallace Bowers, Wahpeton, had charge of the gifts. The bride is a graduate of Highland Park High School, Highland Park., Ill. and is employed as clerk at the M.D.U. office in Beulah. The groom is a Beulah High School graduate and is employed by Rue Construction Co. in Dickinson. The couple are making their home at 302 W. Main in Beulah.

Mildred Pearl (Pulver) Bowers died January 19, 1969, in Beulah, Mercer Co., ND, at age 60. Buried in Beulah City Cemetery, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND.

David John Welk died June 18, 1985, at Mandan Hospital, Mandan, Morton Co., ND, at age 61, from a heart attack. Buried in Beulah Cemetery, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND.

The Beulah Beacon, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, July 3, 1985

David Welk

Services for David J. Welk, 61, Mandan were held June 20 at Buehler Funeral Horne, Mandan, with the Rev, Paul Myers, Beulah, officiating and with Rev. Clifford Hoper and Rev. Paul Myers officiating at the Zion Lutheran Church, Beulah, on Friday, June 21. Military graveside services were held at the Beulah cemetery. Welk died of a heart attack June 18 at the Mandan hospital. He was born Oct. 1, 1923, at Zap to Fred and Rose (Flemmer) Welk. He grew up at Zap and attended school at Zap and Beulah. He entered the U.S. Army in 1943, served in England, Korea and Germany. He retired from the service in 1964. He married Pearl Bowers, Oct. 1, 1947 in Beulah. The couple moved to Mandan in 1964 and he worked for the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget. He was preceded in death by a son, his father and a brother. Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Mrs. Allan (Janice) Abbey, Beulah; four grandchildren; his mother, Rose Welk, Beulah; one brother, Ervin, Chatsworth, Calif; and one sister, Mrs. Gus Morlock, Beulah. Pallbearers were nephews, Leslie Borneman, Kevin Gutknecht, Bruce Morlock, Gary Bowers, Jeff Bowers and Kim Gutknecht.

Pearl Alvira (Bowers) Welk died September 8, 1988, at her home, Mandan, Morton Co., ND, at age 61. Buried in Beulah Cemetery, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND.

The Beulah Beacon, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, September 9, 1988

Pearl Welk

Pearl Welk, 61, rural Mandan, died Sept. 8, 1988, at her home of natural causes. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Nazarene, Mandan, with burial in the Beulah Cemetery. Visitation begins at 2 p.m. today at Buehler Funeral Home, Mandan, and continues at the church one hour before services. Pearl Bowers was born Feb. 20, 1927, at Beulah, where she was raised and educated. She married David Welk, Oct. 1, 1947, at Beulah. He died in 1985. She worked as a salesperson in Bismarck, before moving to Mandan in 1964. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Allan (Janice) Abbey, Beulah; two sisters, Mrs. Genevieve Gutknecht, Minot, and Mrs. Yvonne Bornemann, Pick City; three brothers, Darhl, Mandan, Delbert, Beulah, and Wallace, Miles City, Mont.; and five grandchildren.

Diamond Jubilee, 1914 - 1989, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, 1989

Alan and Janice Abbey

Alan L. Abbey, son of Oran and Alice (Herman) Abbey, was born Sept. 25, 1941. Oran Abbey was killed in 1943 in an automobile accident, widowing Alice with nine children, of whom Alan was the youngest. The family remained on the farm three miles south of Beulah until 1947, at which time they moved into Beulah. Alan went through school in Beulah, worked locally, and traveled with construction until he was employed with Knife River Coal Mining Co. in 1963. On April 25, 1964, he married Janice Welk at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beulah. Jan is the daughter of the late David Welk and Pearl (Bowers) Welk. Mrs. Welk resides in Mandan, which is where they made their home in 1964 when Dave retired from the U. S. Army and started working for the state purchasing department in Bismarck. Even though Dave was an Army career man, the family, including one son, Jerry, spent a lot of time in North Dakota. David was twice stationed at Fort Lincoln near Bismarck. They also lived at Battle Creek, Mich. Jan graduated from high school in Highland Park, Ill., while David was stationed there at Fort Sheridan. While Dave was in Korea, and again when he was in Germany, Pearl and the children resided in Beulah. Jan was employed at the Hazen Memorial Hospital soon after her graduation and was working at the MDU office in Beulah when she and Alan were married. Jan's brother, Jerry, was killed in an automobile accident in October, 1982. His two sons, Jason and Jamie, live with their mother in Glendive, Mont. David passed away in June, 1985. Alan remained with Knife River Coal Mining Company at Beulah until 1974, at which time he was transferred to their Gascoyne Mine near Scranton, N. D. In 1980 he returned to Beulah where he is now mine superintendent for Knife River Coal. Alan's mother, Alice, passed away in the spring of 1982. Alan and Jan were blessed with three children: Alana Marie, who is attending Moorhead State University; Gregory Oran, serving with the United States Army, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Essayons, Hijongbu, Korea; and Alicia Pearl, at home.

The 1998 Abbey sibling reunion, Beulah, Mercer Co., ND. Photo courtesy of Kay Koslan.

Left to Right, Back Row: Alan Abbey, and Gale Abbey.

Left to Right, Middle Row: Jan (Welk) Abbey, Alicia Abbey, Lenore (Abbey) Wetzel, Donald Wetzel, Lois (Abbey) Lang, and Lorraine (Thompson) (Boeck) Abbey.

Left to Right, Front Row: June (Abbey) Dolce, Arvid Gustafson, and Marilyn (Abbey) Gustafson.

The Common, Supplement to Beulah Beacon and the Hazen Star, Beulah, Mercer Co. ND, Thursday, February 15, 2001

Romance is in the air all year long

Alan Abbey and Janice Welk were married Apr. 25, 1964 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beulah. Alan's sister, Marilyn Gustafson, made their wedding cake.

Jan and Alan Abbey met in Beulah, Alan's home town. Alan was a friend of Jan's uncle, Wallace Bowers, who was only a few years older than Jan. The two played football and basketball together. Jan came to visit her grandparents and met Alan when the boys came home after a game. "I was only 13 and an army brat. I went my own way for a few years," she said. Years later she came to visit both sets of grandparents again. Her mother's parents were Lester and Mildred Bowers, and her father's parents were Rose and Fred Welk. "I was here on summer vacation and our paths crossed again. We wrote a few times that year. And the next year when I came to Beulah, we started to date," Jan said. They went to movies and roller skated at the old Sheep Shed. Their romance was one of many in Mercer County that began there. "Our first official date was at the Sheep Shed. He came and got me, and we went roller skating," she said. Saturdays they might go to the lake. On Sunday they were at the home of one family or another playing cards. Alan's mother was Alice Abbey and his grandfather was Charles Herman. They were married Apr. 25, 1964 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beulah.

Each couple shared a courtship that included the tried and true and a few added their own unique touch. It was all in the spirit of romance. Happy Valentine's Day.

Note: There was another couple that shared their courtship story in this same article.

Alicia Abbey, Beulah, N.D., and Shane Aleshire, Wrenshall, Minn., announce their engagement. Parents are Jan and Alan Abbey, Beulah; and Candace Butala, Wrenshall. Alicia graduated in 2004 from Beulah High School and in 2008 graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor's degree in business management. She is an administrative assistant at Navteq, Fargo. Shane graduated in 2003 from Princeton (Minn.) Senior High School. He attended North Dakota State University and will be attending the University of Mary to pursue a bachelor's degree in business management. He is a sales representative for Wennsoft, Fargo. He also served with the U.S. Air Force from 2003 to 2009. The wedding will be Saturday at First United Methodist Church, Fargo, followed by a reception at the Holiday Inn, Fargo.

Shane David Aleshire and Alicia Pearl Abbey were married August 15, 2009, at First United Methodist Church, Fargo, Cass Co., ND.

Alan Lee Abbey died December 19, 2020, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck, Burleigh Co., ND, at age 79. Buried in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Mercer Co., ND.

The Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, Burleigh Co., ND, Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Alan Abbey

Alan Lee Abbey, 79, of Beulah, left this world to be in a better place on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 10:30 AM CDT on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Tom Grafsgaard officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah with a vigil service to follow at 6 p.m. Masks are required at both the funeral and the church and the visitation at the funeral home. Alan was born in Beulah to Oran and Alice (Herman) Abbey on Sept. 25, 1941, the youngest of nine children. He married Janice (Jan) Welk at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beulah on April 25, 1964. The couple had three children, Alana, Greg and Alicia. In Alan’s work life he managed the Sheep Shed roller rink, was employed with two service stations, worked road construction and began his career at Knife River Coal. Here he started out cleaning cars and eventually became the mine superintendent. He was employed with Knife River Coal for 37 years. Alan was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Jaycees, the Beulah Chamber of Commerce and St. Joseph’s Choir since high school. Alan is survived by his wife, Jan of Beulah; his children, Alana (special friend, Bill Schlegel) of Bismarck, Greg (Norine) of Jamestown, ND and Alicia (Shane) Aleshire of Mandan; his grandchildren, Cody Erstad, Abbi (Marcus) Crofoot, Mikki (Jacob) Gathman, and Teagan, Emma, Beckett and Piper Aleshire; step-granddaughter, Savannah Christl; two sisters, June Dolce of Liberty Lake, WA and Colleen Flemmer of Stevensville, MT; one brother-in-law, Don Wetzel of Bismarck; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Oran; his in-laws, David and Pearl Welk; four sisters, Lois (Loren) Lang, Marilyn (Arvid) Gustafson, Lenore Wetzel, and Donna (Stan) Stasel; two brothers, Gale (Lorraine) Abbey and Jim (Joyce) Abbey; one brother-in-law, Jerry Welk; and two nephews, Mike Dolce, Jr. and Scott Stasel. Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen. To plants a trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.