Albert Schneiter

Albert Gottlieb Armin Schneiter passed away on March 27th, 2024. He was born on November 10th. 1940, in Bozeman, Montana, to Friedrich Schneiter and Marie Elizabeth Brunner, immigrants to the United States from Switzerland in the canton of Bern. He attended grade school and high school in Belgrade, Montana, graduating in 1958, and worked summers on his father’s farm. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Montana National Guard and completed his basic training and communication training at Fort Ord and the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, both in California. In 1959, he enrolled in college at Montana State University, where he graduated with a degree in agronomy in 1963 and earned his M.S. degree in Agronomy in October 1964.

On November 1st, 1964, he began working as an agronomist for North Dakota State University (NDSU) at the Williston Experiment Station. He left the position on July 1st, 1969, and moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he began employment at the University of Arizona (U of A) as a technician. As an employee, he took advantage of reduced-rate classes. In 1971, he became a Graduate Assistant to expedite his schooling, completing his studies in December 1973 with a PhD in Crop Physiology and Production. After graduation, he worked in the UA Department of Agronomy for several months before taking a position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy at NDSU. During his tenure at NDSU, Al was promoted to Associate and then full-time Professor. In 1994, he was elected by the department faculty to serve as an interim chairperson. Two years later, following a national search, he was named the permanent Chairperson of the Department of Plant Sciences, a position he held until his retirement in 2008.

Al was honored several times for his work as an agronomist. including being named a Fellow by both the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America. Only three individuals per 1000 members are elected to this honor annually. Al’s greatest joy at NDSU involved working with crop producers and training and watching the professional success of his 26 MS and PhD students.

On August 26th, 1963, Al met Ann Schroder. a young lady from Hanks, ND, at a dance in Williston, ND, marking one of the most important days of his life. She quickly became the love of his life, and they were married on November 12th, 1966, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williston. From this union came four daughters: Cathy (Brian McDonald), born on September 21st, 1969, in Tucson, AZ, and now residing in Leonard, ND, and his triplets born on May 5th, 1976: Jacinda Schneiter (married to Rory Howell) in Elk River, MN, Larina Schneiter, and Heather Schneiter in Fargo, ND.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, brother Fred. and sister Rosemarie. He is survived by his true love Ann, his four loving daughters, and three wonderful grandchildren: Ethan, Abigail, and Claire McDonald.

A private family memorial service will take place at a later date.