Arthur Dockter

Arthur “Art” Dockter of Fargo, died Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017 at the Villa Maria Nursing home.  He was 92 years old. Arthur was born March 17, 1925 to Michael and Christine (Geinger) Dockter at the family farm, nine miles south of Drake, ND, the 6^th of 13 children.  When he was young, the family moved to a farm five miles northeast of McClusky , where Art grew up.  He attended country school through the 8^th grade and then attended McClusky High School until he had to leave to help run the family farm during WWII. He was hired by the draft board after the war and he also worked the family farm and a farm owned by relatives.  He was drafted into the army during the Korean War.  Art served as a corporal with the 40^th Infantry Division, 224^th regiment, headquarters 2^nd Battalion.  After basic training at Camp Cooke in California, the whole division left overseas for Japan.  The unit was eventually sent to Korea, and Art served several months on the front lines. Upon returning from the war Arthur attended Gale Institute in Minneapolis where he studied telegraphy.  After this training he was hired by Great Northern Railroad as a relief operator.  He worked in this capacity for about a year.  Art then attended NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND and received his degree in journalism and printing.  He worked for the Breckenridge Gazette Telegram, the local newspaper. It was in Breckenridge he met Evelace Buus, the love of his life.  They were married August 8,1959 and made their home in Breckenridge.  They had three children, Patricia, Annette and Jay.   Arthur took a job with the Fargo Forum in 1968 and the family moved to Fargo.  He worked with the Fargo paper until his retirement in 1991. Art had many interests and chief among them was gardening.  He kept an immaculate, thriving garden each spring and summer.  Many neighbors, relatives and friends enjoyed the fruits of his labor, as he loved to share his produce.  Art also enjoyed hunting when he was younger and fishing for most of his life and spending time with family. He was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Fargo, where he was head usher for many years.  He and Evy were able to travel during retirement.  They took senior trips to Hawaii, New York, Mexico and several other places, but the best visits he said were to see his children and grandchildren. Art was also a member of the Fargo American Legion and Color Guard and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.  As a member of the Color Guard, he helped  provide the final military salute at the funerals of many fellow veterans over the years. He is preceded in death by his parents:  Michael and Christine Dockter, his brothers, Adam, Michael, Jonathon, and Jake and his sisters Emily and Esther. He is survived by his wife, Evelace, daughters Patricia (Todd) Eustice, Annette (Jeff) Jenson, son Jay (Nicole), brother Benny (Betty) Dockter, sisters, Christine (Eddie) Kauk, Frieda Ehrman, Martha (Gordon) Felchle, Mary (LaVern) Axt and Kathy (Ron) Seibel, brother-in-law, Leslie Bruce, grandchildren, Caitlin, Meghan, Kristen and Allison Eustice,  Alex and Abby Jenson and Casey, Carly, Eliana and Kirby Dockter and Russel and Norah Boyd. Arthur will be greatly missed by his family, friends and neighbors.  He was unwavering in his faith and believed in God and in prayer. He often quoted many bible verses and one of his favorites was John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."