Big Al departed for the big karaoke bar in the sky on June 28, 2021 at St. Benedict’s Health Center. If you were to ask him about his untimely demise, he’d tell you it was due to too much gambling, smoking too many cigarettes, drinking too much beer, and chasing too many women.
Born on February 1, 1949 to Tony and Eleanor (Blatz) Leiss in Dickinson, Big Al was the fourth of eight children. He loved growing up on the family farm, and while in high school, he excelled at basketball. He graduated from Gladstone High School in 1967.
Drafted in 1970, Big Al was a veteran of the US Army. He served his country in Vietnam as a field artillery soldier in the C Battery of the 1/19th Field Artillery Unit, earning a Bronze Star Medal and an Army Commendation Medal during his tour of duty.
In February 1978, he married Cathy Mayers. Shortly after getting married, Big Al became a father when Devenne was born in 1978 followed by Shaundra in 1981. Big Al and Cathy recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.
He spent a few years working in the oil field and even did a stint as a small town cop in Reynolds. Apparently his police work attire was a tank top and motorcycle and when he brought people to the jail, they were never sure which one was the offender.
Big Al was the owner of A-Z Hydroseeding and Tree Moving. If you were ever lucky enough to ride around town with him, he always made it a point of taking you on a tour to show you all the lawns in town he seeded and all the trees that he moved. He was responsible for many of the beautiful lawns in and around Dickinson.
He loved going hunting with his brothers and anyone else brave enough to ride with him at a high rate of speed down the many area backroads. He delighted in driving new folks out to the farm and acting like he was going to jump the car off the butte. He could often be found just driving around drinking coffee, listening to music and visiting friends all over the country and in town. Big Al never met a stranger he couldn’t – or wouldn’t – talk to.
One of his true passions was hosting and singing karaoke. He loved getting anyone he could in front of the microphone to sing. He spent countless hours singing with his great singing partners: Gene, Ron, and Terry. The Franklin Street neighborhood was kept full of music and was entertained with regular singing sessions in his garage. We are sure all the neighbors will miss this immensely.
Another one of his talents that he learned from his Mom, was that Big Al could cook up a storm. He made a fantastic pot roast with his well-used roasting pan and always made a fan favorite, wilted lettuce. However, for him to cook, you would need to catch him while he wasn’t drinking beer. According to the rules of Big Al, you do not eat when you drink beer. It ruins it.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Lorraine Hirsch; brother-in-law, Ken Hirsch; mother-in-law, Lorene Mayers; sister-in-law, Caryn Polley; and many beloved family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Cathy; daughters, Devenne (Sam) and Shaundra; stepson, Rick Johnson; three grandsons, Jacob, Dylan, and Benjamin; siblings, Larry (Ruby) Leiss, Leroy Leiss, Randy (Carolyn) Leiss, Letty (Wayne) Arvizu, Terry Leiss, and Linda (Bob) Landry; father-in-law, Donald Mayers; and many, many more family, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Following his wishes, there will not be a funeral, but well-wishers are encouraged to write a note of farewell on their favorite can of beer and drink it in his honor.
Inurnment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan with Military Honors provided by the Bismarck AMVETS Community Honor Guard on Friday, July 16 at 12 noon CST (11am MST) and a memorial party will follow at the St. Anthony’s Club in Dickinson, from 4pm to close. Dinner and Karaoke provided.
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