Albert John Moore, born March 3, 1929, to Lloyd S. and Myrtle R. Moore in Flandreau, SD entered the gates of heaven on June 5, 2022. At the age of 93, Albert was the oldest known man in the Moore family. Family has always been his top priority and joy.  As a child, his family grew to include a younger sister, Alva and brother, Kenneth. Their parents rented multiple farms in Moody County, finally settling on farm northwest of Flandreau. He graduated from Egan High School in 1947. He was in every school play, as the father. A role he was type-casted for as he was an amazing husband and father.  In 1948, he met one of his sister’s roommates, Joyce Ellen Frank, and knew she was the one. He says it took two years to convince her, but theirs was a love that was strong and true. Sweethearts until she passed away in 2012. Married October 21, 1950 at her parent’s farm near Paynesville, MN.
January 30, 1951 found Albert putting on an Army uniform to serve in the Korean War. As luck would have it, he ended up serving in Alabama and Georgia as a top-secret security librarian for the German scientists building the rockets under Von Braun who defected to the US during WW II. Albert would rarely talk of these days beyond the fun with his army buddies. “I’m sure I carried important/interesting documents, but I never got to read a one.” It was a perfect duty station for him, as he had loved planes his entire life. He paid a dollar of his own money when he was only 10 years old to go for a flight. Until the end, you could find him looking for the closet airport to watch the planes.
In 1953, Albert left the Army. Patrician Ann was due any day, so they stayed in Alabama until she was old enough to travel back to Flandreau. There he and Joyce established home and became active in the community. A life time friend of 4-H, served on the trustees at the United Methodist Church and the Flandreau Airport Board for decades, sponsored a bowling league, and played slow-pitch into his 60s. Al loved community, his neighbors, and the friends he met along the way. He loved a good cup of coffee and visiting/laughing with friends.
Albert had two more girls, Anita Joyce and Bette-Jo Ellen. Patti married Rodney Reiff (Northfield, MN) and had four children: Roberta Reiff (Cannon Falls, MN.), William Reiff (deceased)/Erica (Beldenville, WI), Krista Pophen/Matt (Burnsville, MN), and Albert Reiff/Kristine (Ramsey, MN). Anita married Conrad Leighton (White Bear Lake, MN) and had four children: Tiffany Giffey/Tom (Eau Claire, WI), Tabitha Kazaglis/Louis (Belton, Ohio), Linnea Leighton/John (St. Paul, MN), and Isaac Leighton (White Bear Lake, MN). Bette-Jo married James Johnson (Roseville, MN) and gained three sons: Oscar/Marisela Johnson (Clarksville, TN), Donald/Sarah Johnson (Overton, TX), and Zackory/Lillian Johnson (Royce City, TX). The great-grandchildren include Annika and Astrid Reiff, Quinn and Logan Reiff, Graham and Gloria Giffey, Josie, Kate, and Max Kazaglis, Gabe, Anna, Christina, and Ronin Johnson.
The place he felt most at peace and closest to God was fishing. He was a man of strong quiet faith. He was a doer. A man behind the scenes. A man of optimism and mirth. Many knew him as “The House Doctor.” He started working doing roofing and siding after high school graduation in Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, North Dakota, Texas, and more. When he returned from the Army, he started his own business, Moore’s Roofing and Siding – which really was any home repair job that was needed. He was a strong and hardworking man, but he really enjoyed the problem solving. He also believed if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing right – the first time. However, mistakes were not mistakes, but learning opportunities. Many young men worked for him over the 45 years, until he semi-retired, whom he enjoyed and shared his skills. The last few years, as his health was failing and the pandemic hit, he decided on an extended visit with his youngest. There he was able to enjoy more time with all of his family, creating treasured memories and sharing many stories. He had an amazing memory.
His parents, siblings, Joyce (wife), William “Bill” (grandson), special friend Clara Norgaard and many other dear loved ones preceded him in death. Albert was a remarkable man with a strong heart. A life well lived. He will be missed and forever celebrated by his entire family and many friends. Albert’s final resting place will be the Colman Cemetery, Colman, SD with his wife, parents, grandparents, and his SD pioneer great-grandparents.
Services are tentatively set for Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Flandreau. www.skrochfc.com