Funeral services for Albert Rivinius, age 95 of Elgin, will be held at 10:30 am MT, Monday, January 2, 2012 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin. Pastor Hazel Behrens will officiate with burial will be in Hope Congregational Cemetery.


A family service will be held at 7:00pm on Sunday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin.


Serving as casketbearers are Ryan, Josh, Jay, Todd, Allen, and Dennis Rivinius, Jim Maier, Mark and Guy Dobitz. Serving as honorary casketbearers are his granddaughters, LaRae McTaggert, Kandi Trace, Traci Bruha, and Kathy Haynes, and all of Albert's great and great-great grandchildren.


A memorial has been established.


ALBERT L. RIVINIUS was born on February 15, 1916 in Elgin, ND at the Rivinius homestead to Jacob and Pauline (Heim) Rivinius. He attended country school south of Elgin and helped on the family farm.


On October 15, 1939, he was united in marriage to Tillie Schulz at Arthur, ND. To this union they were blessed with three sons, Ronnie, Larry, and Douglas. Albert took over the family farm and went into the trucking business.


His wife Tillie passed away on February 8, 1956.


On July 3, 1960, Albert was united in marriage to Leata Molm. To this family came the addition of, Claudia. Albert and Leata continued to farm and ranch and enjoyed rodeoing as a family.


Albert was a member of the United Methodist Church in Elgin, the Elgin Saddle Club where served as its first president, and the Grant County Fair Board for 30 years. He also served on the Water Resource Board during which the Sheep Creek and Raleigh Dam were built, the Mandan Elks, and the North Dakota Stockman's Association. Since 1957, Albert was very active in the Elgin Lions Club. He was a charter member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Albert also enjoyed golfing and maintaining the Elgin Golf Course. He served in the State of North Dakota for 12 years in the House of Representatives.


Albert and Leata spent 23 winters in Arizona after their retirement. His wife Leata passed away on May 10, 1999. Albert entered Dakota Hills housing Elgin on June 6, 2007. He enjoyed living there and the people who worked there. Albert enjoyed a good game of cards, going to church, visiting with people, and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.



Albert passed away on Wednesday evening, December 28, 2011 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin.


Surviving family members include 3 sons, Ronnie (Ruby) Rivinius, Suns Lake, AZ; Larry (Dennise) Rivinius, Rapid City, SD; Douglas (Joleen) Rivinius, Elgin, ND; 1 daughter, Claudia (Joe) Dobitz, Bakersfield, CA; 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.


He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Tillie (Schulz), his wife, Leata (Molm); one grandson, Jay Dobitz; 4 sisters, Ida Van Horn, Bertha Rivinius, Freda Rivinius, and Anna Wutzke, and 3 brothers, Edwin Rivinius, Harold Rivinius, and Walter Rivinius.


Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 to the time of the family service at 7:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin and on Monday one hour prior to services at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin.