Funeral services for Walter Earl Kallis, age 83, of Mott, ND will be held at 10:00 am MT Thursday, July 5, 2012 at the New Leipzig Baptist Church, New Leipzig, ND with Pastor Perry Kallis, officiating.

Burial will be at 3:00pm CT on Thursday afternoon at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan and full military honors will be afforded by the Taylor-Skartvedt American Legion Post #71 of Mott and the Mandan VFW.


A family service will be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 4 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Chapel in Mott.


Walter's grandchildren will serve as casket bearers: Summer & Darren Peterson, Mandy & Jason Bowker, Philip & Brett Kallis, Kathy Kallis, Courtney Kallis, Emily Kallis. Honorary casket bearers are grandchildren unable to attend: James & Katie Kallis, Angela & Tim Mangrich & Daniel Kallis.


Walter Earl Kallis was born August 30, 1928 to Jacob and Katherine (Okken) Kallis in Solon Township, Hettinger County, ND. Walter grew up on the family farm and completed the eighth grade at the one room rural school, ½ mile north of their farm. He worked on the farm and also at the Ketterling underground coal mine north of New Leipzig. Walter was drafted into the US Army in January 1951, serving as a Military Police officer, primarily riding trains transporting US troops. He was honorably discharged in January 1953.


Walter married Darlene Auch on June 19, 1953 at the Mott Baptist Church. They started their life together on a farm in Solon Township. They moved to Livingston, MT in 1956 where Walter worked for Donner Lumber Mill. They then moved to Tracy and Stockton, CA where he worked in a paper mill and did brick laying and carpentry work with his father-in-law. In 1958, they returned to the farm where he and Darlene raised their three boys. He worked for nine years at the Davenport coal mine north of New Leipzig. In 1972 they set up a dairy operation, Kallis Dairy. Walter and Darlene moved to Mott in 1990 to work with the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home until officially "retiring" in 2009.


Walter stepped into God's presence on June 29, 2012.


Walter developed a strong work ethic and deep Christian faith. Being a young boy during the "Dirty Thirties" and experiencing lean times during WWII shaped the man he would become. He was encouraged by their pastor on their wedding day to make daily devotions, prayer and Bible reading a focus in his and his young bride's life. His life and the lives of his family were shaped by this consistent practice. His final day of life began with his wife by his side, together reading Psalm 103; "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name."


Walter was known by many as a man who prayed for others and genuinely wanted God's best for them. He was a member of New Leipzig Baptist Church where he served many years as a Sunday School teacher and deacon. He was also involved in Gideons International, the American Legion (Taylor-Skartvedt, post #71), Solon township treasurer and various offices in the Mott Lions Club. Walter also enjoyed singing with Sam Schram, Don Okken, Floyd and Shirley Roehl as the "Friends Quartet".


Walter enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends in seventeen states and Canada—particularly enjoying a special trip to Branson, MO. In recent years, Walter enjoyed reading books, as well as studying for the Bible studies he presented for the residents at the Good Samaritan Center in Mott. In 2008, he was named Good Samaritan's Volunteer of the Year. He enjoyed family gatherings and being with his children, grandchildren, great grandkids, brothers and sisters. However, his greatest enjoyments were spent with his wife of 59 years, Darlene. Their love for each other was evident to all and seen as a loving couple in every sense of the word.


Keeping Walter in their fondest memories are his wife Darlene; sons: Bruce (Irene) Kallis, Mott; Perry (Linda) Kallis, Lodi, CA; Scott (Kathryn) Kallis, Detroit Lakes, MN; grandchildren: Summer (Darren) Peterson, Lemmon, SD; Mandy (Jason) Bowker, Seattle, WA; Philip (Brett) Kallis, Dickinson, ND; Kathy Kallis, Bismarck, ND; James (Katie) Kallis, Lodi, CA; Angela (Tim) Mangrich, Lodi, CA; Daniel Kallis, Lodi, CA; Courtney Kallis, Bismarck, ND; Emily Kallis, Minneapolis, MN; great grandchildren: Rebekah, Timothy & Savannah Peterson; Zoe Bowker; Elizabeth & Paizley Kallis; Olive Kallis; Roman & Conrad Mangrich; brothers: Harold (Annetta) Kallis, Tuttle, ND; Alfred Kallis, Mott, ND; Lester (Viola) Kallis, Bethel, MN; and sister: Mable (Willard) Auch, Coon Rapids, MN; in-laws: Delmar & Bobbie Auch, Ripon, CA; DeAnna & Roy Rea, Manteca, CA; Merv Gray, Roseburg, OR.


Preceding Walter in death were his parents, one infant brother Robert, one sister-in-law, Lorene Ebert Kallis.


Walter will be dearly missed by all who loved him.


Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 4 from 1:00 to 7:00 PM at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Chapel in Mott.


Memorials may be given to New Leipzig Baptist Church, Good Samaritan Society-Mott and Gideons International.


Condolences may be sent to the family at www.funeralhomesofcaring.com.