Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series:
Tribute
Folder:
DIG
Item:
271448
Title:
Alan H. Sims
Date:
10/18/1948-1/27/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
10/18/1948
Summary:
Alan Henry Sims, 76, of Alexander, ND, unexpectedly passed away January 27, 2025, at the McKenzie County Hospital in Watford City, ND. Funeral services were held February 5, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alexander, with Kevin Beard officiating. Military honors were presented by the American Legion Carl E Rogen Post 29 from Watford City, and representatives from the United States Navy
Alan was born on October 18, 1948, to Ford and Mary (Henry) Sims in Williston, ND, where he lived until the summer after first grade when the family moved to the Sims farm south of Alexander. On that dairy farm Alan learned to work hard (he thought the worst part about milking in the morning was going to school smelling like a cow) and have fun as he formed an extraordinary bond with his siblings whom he cherished all his days.
After graduating from Alexander Public School in 1966, Alan headed back to Williston and literally wore his fingerprints off working in the salt plant before going to Minot State University on a football scholarship. Alan diligently attended football practice but admitted he neglected to go to class and “was asked not to return to the university.” Alan then went to work at the Dave Crighton ranch where he became good friends with David Lee, Ronny, and apparently Lynn. Lynn stayed in Sidney during the week for high school but on the weekends, Dave would assign tasks that got them all working together.
From the Crighton ranch Alan went into the Navy and became a Seabee (construction battalion) and served on both the East and West Coast and in the Caribbean Islands where they built air strips, water towers and hospitals. A little more than three years into his four-year enlistment, Alan's dad was severely injured on the farm. Ford’s friends wrote letters to Military Affairs and got Alan discharged to go home and help on the dairy. Alan and Lynn had exchanged letters throughout his time in the service and on Mother’s Day 1971 he proposed. They were married August 13 that year and moved to Fargo so Alan could attend NDSU. He became a lifelong Bison fan, but soon decided school wasn't for him and headed back to the Crighton ranch to work for Lynn's Grandma Mamie by day and play pinochle by night.
Alan and Lynn moved to Winnett, MT, and worked for three years on the Wayne Bratten ranch. Alan became good friends with the other four ranch hands and shared great Winnett stories for the rest of his life. In 1975 Ford sent Alan a letter alerting him that the boom was on and he had better come home and make some money in the oil field. They moved back to the Sims farm that summer. Alan first went to work on a Brown and Root pipeline crew. Next, he hired on at the Kerr-McGee gas plant and even though an explosion burned him badly in the first few months, and he hated shift work, he stayed there 11 years.
In 1982 they adopted Asa Odus and he became the center of Alan’s attention. Alan delighted in taking Asa shooting bows and guns, choring, working in the shop, working cattle, and gathering milk cows on the farm. Alan’s mountain man phase had the family in buckskins with flint locks from hunting camp to Fort Union Rendezvous. When Asa got older, they moved on to football, basketball and GOLF! Alan was proud of the man Asa grew to be and the life he built for his family in Idaho.
In 1988 the gas plant shut down, but Alan continued to help on the farm and dabble in hogs, mules, horses and buffalo. Against Lynn's better judgment, but under the influence of John Heggen, Ray Powell, Jim Jacobson and Ed Rettig on the golf course, he also bought a bar/cafe in Alexander. To shorten Lynn's commute to the bar, they moved to a house in Alexander. Alan also took a job at Heggen Equipment putting machinery together and working in the machine shop. This led to Alan setting up a valve repair shop in their garage which he ran until he retired and began prairie dog hunting full time.
Alan was a competitor and enjoyed beating anybody at anything: foot racing, fist fighting, football, golf, team roping, softball, wally ball, racquetball, pinochle, cribbage...
Alan loved all things guns and hunting. Some highlights include hunting with Mark Hamilton in Alaska, Dave Rod in the Charles Russell, Ed and Bob Retting and Wally in western Montana, Ned Hermanson and Tony Tomal after rock chucks, David Lee and Ronny in the badlands and especially speed goat (antelope) chasing and prairie dog hunting with Lynn, nieces, nephews and the rest of the family.
Alan was proud of his military service and was commander of American Legion Post 94 in Alexander. He made sure there was a good Memorial Day program and American flags placed at veterans’ graves.
He was a generous spirit, giving his time and talent to help others succeed, from hauling kids to ball tournaments and robotics competitions to making sure people were educated in the use of their guns and bows. Alan was also appreciative of any favor done for him and often followed up with a handwritten thank you note and maybe even an antler handle knife he made. He also made knives for all nieces and nephews for baby gifts. Alan added so much to our lives, humor, fun, mischievousness and conversation (argument). He wasn’t much for rules and lived his life as he chose. His doctors and wife can attest that when he made a decision, it was typically final.
Alan took the time to truly love and enjoy his friends and family. He especially adored his grandchildren, Johann and Eowynn, and loved having them live next door before they moved to Idaho. Even after babysitting all day, he encouraged them to run back across the yard for one more visit any time.
Above all else, Alan was a devoted and selfless husband. He cared for Lynn with a fierceness and protectiveness only an avid hunter could provide. In their 53 years of marriage, Alan set the bar high and was an example for all of us in how to love and be loved. He didn’t wait to tell us how he felt - every phone call ended with “love ya.”
Alan is survived by his wife, Lynn Sims; son, Asa (Sabrina) Sims; grandchildren, Johann and Eowynn; brothers, Wally (Carol) Sims and Andy Sims; and sisters, Becky (Tony) Tomal, Iris Stover (Rod); and many nieces and nephews.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Ford and Mary Sims; sister, Lynn Louise Sims; nephews, Nathan and Nichalos Sims; mother and father-in-law, Dave and Marjorie Crighton; brother-in-law, Ron Herriot.
Red ID: FND_I_78938 Image ID: 521130 Image Notes: FND001 271448
