Hans
S. Waale, 76St. Hilaire - Hans Waale, 76, died Sunday, August 23, 1998 at the Veterans Hospital in Fargo, ND.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 27 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with Reverend Tim Bauer officiating. Military rites will be provided by the American Legion and VFW Posts of Thief River Falls.
Visitation will be held today (Wednesday, August 26) from noon until 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls and for one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.
Hans Selmer Waale was born on June 30, 1922 in Nielsville, the son of Tom and Sena (Skretvedt) Waale. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Nielsville. He attended school in Nielsville and Climax. Hans worked in the shipyards in California before entering the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He was a staff sergeant and nose turret gunner in Italy during World War II and was awarded the air medal for meritorious achievement in aerial combat.
On May 28, 1946 Hans was united in marriage to Bebe Ruth Peterson of Ada. They moved to Thief River Falls in 1948 where Hans attended school to become a photographer and worked for Tom Waale Photo Studio for three years. He also worked for Hartz Warehouse before becoming a mail carrier for the remainder of his working years. Hans retired in 1972, moving to St. Hilaire where he and Bebe built their own home and continued to live until the time of his death.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and Eagles. He enjoyed hunting, music and all forms of art.
Hans is survived by his wife. Bebe of St. Hilaire; two daughters, Carlotta (Bill) Barnell of Vancouver, WA and Vienna (Bill) Besch of Seattle, WA; two sons, Steve (Linda) Waale of East Grand Forks and Brian Waale of Seattle, WA; three grandchildren; six sisters, Alice, Ina, Gladys, Stella, Doris and Lorraine; one brother, Ole; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.