Al Truax gained his wings and went to his heavenly father on August 12, 2023. He peacefully passed away at home surrounded by family following a short illness.

A celebration of life and fellowship will be held at the Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre at 1pm on Friday, August 25, 2023. Condolences can be sent to Al Truax Family c/o Isburg Funeral Chapel 439 South Pierre Street, Pierre, SD 57501. Burial of cremated remains will be in Riverside Cemetery in Pierre. For those unable to attend the service they will be live streamed on the link below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SERVICE

Alvin Franklin Truax, “Al” was the youngest of four children born to Albert and Vivian (Olson). He was born at the family home in North Lemmon, North Dakota on November 4, 1937. His father passed away when he was a young boy leaving his mother to raise the children. He grew up in Lemmon, South Dakota and lived a short time in Missoula, Montana. He attended Lemmon Public School and graduated from the 8th grade.

Al met his future bride, Arlene Moe, at a dance in Haynes, North Dakota. They married a short time later in Rapid City, South Dakota on April 17, 1957. A devoted husband, they recently celebrated 66 years of marriage. Their union brought three children into the world. They spent their early years raising their family in Lemmon, Fort Pierre, and Pierre, South Dakota.

As a young teen, Al worked as a pin setter at the Lemmon Bowling Alley. He also worked mining agates near Lemmon, driving coal trucks and working construction with his brother-in-law. He joined Haugen Construction and worked on the Oahe Dam, the largest earthen dam in the world, and the Big Bend Dam by Fort Thompson, South Dakota.

As a construction worker in Pierre, he worked on the King’s Inn addition project and the Red Owl Grocery Store, later known as Dakotamart. Upon completion of the grocery store, he was employed as a maintenance man for Red Owl. A career lasting 33 years from 1972-2005.

Al collected eagles, loved playing cards and was a “card counter”. He loved a good joke, riddle-rhyming, and playing pranks. He enjoyed watching old westerns on television, decorating the yard for Halloween and Christmas, keeping a meticulous garden and yard, and taking care of their pet cat, Snoopy. He was a skilled fisherman and hunter enjoying both rifle and archery. He was still climbing into tree stands at the age of 80. He received several Proud Angler Awards for trophy fish and was twice recognized by Pope and Young for archery deer.

Al survived a quadruple bypass open heart surgery in 1988 and also beat cancer. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Albert and Vivian, siblings Arlene, Clifford, and Violet and one grandson, Jeremy.

Those left to celebrate his life and carry on his legacy are his wife, Arlene, children Monte (Kimberly), Robert (Anna), and Loretta (Shelly), grandchildren Chadrick, Crystal (Adam), Roxie (Greg) and Ryan (Danielle) and great-grandchildren Kadence, Jackson, Ryder, Knox, Genevieve, Autumn, and Nash.

Al was a member of the Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre. “Those who trust in the Lord shall soar on eagle’s wings”.

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