From Benson County Farmers Press, Jan. 2, 2002, page 12.

The funeral for Alfred Wurgler Jr., 91, of Knox was held Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, rural York. Burial was in the church cemetery. He died Dec. 24, 2001 at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby.

Pastor Steve Cameron officiated. Pianist was Karyn Nathan and Colin Cameron was violinist, accompanied by Lindsay Cameron. Casket bearers were Glen and Paul Heidlebaugh, Dustin Blessum, Paul Hartill and Steve and Ryan Wurgler.
Alfred Wurgler Jr. was born Aug. 22, 1910 in New Glarus, Wisc. to Alfred and Anna Maria Mueller Wurgler. In 1917 the family moved to rural York. He was educated at Twin Lake School No. 4. After his education he worked on the family farm and for his brother, Willie. He also worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps, building roads in Benson County during the depression. On June 14, 1936 he married Olga Loken in Cando. The couple made their home in Knox, where he established Al's Service & Repair in 1936. He held patents on two inventions and built snow planes for area rural mail carriers in the 1940's and 1950's. In the 1960's he started the Knox Sanitary
Service and sold this business in 1998. Along with owning and operating his repair shop in Knox until 1973, he also farmed. In August of 2001 he moved to the Harold S. Haaland Home in Rugby.

He was a woodworker and made violins, which he enjoyed playing. He also did leatherwork and lapidary work. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, rural York, and served on several church boards. He was a member of the Knox City Council and the Knox 55 Club and served on the Knox School Board. He played his violin and rattlebones in a family band on a Devils Lake radio station.

Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Beverly Heidlebaugh of Chewelah, Wash. and Donna and Darryl Blessum of Wayne, Okla.; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Edie Wurgler of Knox; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; six sisters, Hannah Wright of Blackfoot, Idaho, Ida Hoime of Edmore, Elsie Eide of Rugby, Mary Berg of Phoenix, Ariz. and Rose Roed of Minot; and two brothers, Otto and John Wurgler, both of Rugby.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a sister, Wilma Loken; and seven brothers, Willie, Edward, Werner, Hugo, Charlie and infants Bennie and Glenn.

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