Cover photo for Theobalt "Ted" Fleck's Obituary
Theobalt "Ted" Fleck Profile Photo
1930 Theobalt 2016

Theobalt "Ted" Fleck

April 4, 1930 — May 22, 2016

Obituary for Theobalt "Ted" Fleck

Theobalt “Ted” Fleck, 86, died Sunday, May 22, 2016, in Missoula.

Funeral services were held in Bismarck, North Dakota. Graveside services were at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, North Dakota.

Ted was born April 4, 1930, on a farm located between Flasher and Solen, North Dakota, to parents Michael L. and Mathilda Gerhardt Fleck.

When his father died in 1937 the family, seven children with their mother, moved to Breien, North Dakota, then back to the farm and eventually permanently to Solen. There they lived in various homes before eventually residing at their grandmother Philomena Gerhardt’s (Mathilda's mother) home. Ted attended a country school, then at Breien, and then to Solen.

As a very young boy/man he worked for various local farmers/ranchers, helping with livestock, harvesting and various other chores. At the age of 11 he already had the responsibility of herding 360 head of sheep! In 1944, he also worked on the railroad, stating his age as being 16, rather than the actual 14 in order to get the job. Later he also worked in Bismarck and Denver, Colorado, and in Kansas City, Missouri.

At the age of 17 Ted joined the U.S. Air Force. He finished his education in the Air Force. He did his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Ted had a lifelong career in the Air Force. His assignments consisted of tours in Germany, Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, Labrador, California and Nebraska. He was on the Air Refueling Squadron and also did fireman/rescue at the airport during the Korean War.

Ted married Irma Hausamann on August 1953. They later divorced. Ted married Joan Nokleby in Missoula on Oct. 4, 1977.

Upon completing his Air Force career as a Tech Sergeant, he and his family moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, and he joined his brother Mike as a semi-truck driver. He later moved to Missoula where he continued as a trucker.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan, of 38 years who stood by his side until the very end, his children, Doreen Burdick of Bismarck, Roy (Micki) Fleck of San Antonio, Texas, Richard (Patty) Fleck of Bismarck, Teddy (Bonnie) Fleck of Springfield, Missouri, David (Cathy) Fleck of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Shawn (Missy) Fleck of Republic, Missouri, and their mother Irma Turgut, and also four stepchildren, Conrad/June (Michele) Nokleby, Brent (Darla) Nokleby, Teresa (John) Kafentiz and Susan Nokleby (John) Adams. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Brandon and Dustin Fleck, Chelsie (Tim) Boeshans, Richard Jr. Fleck, Corey, Garrett and Gavin Fleck, Kyla and Kallie Fleck and Kristina Kainz; four great-grandchildren, and numerous step-grandchildren. Ted is also survived by his brother Steve of North Platte, Nebraska; his sisters, Mary S. Hoff of Sacramento, California, and Phyllis Eckroth of Mandan, North Dakota, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Matt, Michael and Roger, infant siblings, Anne, John, and George and son-in-law, Wayne Burdick.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Theobalt "Ted" Fleck, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 0

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree