Alfred Heggem (Fritz)

Camp Crook, SD

1934, 1793, Pine Creek, S-1,
1935, 1793, Pine Creek (Keystone), SP-1,
1937, 1793, Lodge, SP-4, Ass't Leader

Fritz and Alice met at the Heggem home place, north of Camp Crook, SD. Orville, (Alice's brother) was dating Lillian (Fritz's sister) at that time. When asked why Alice was at the Heggem ranch, Fritz said, "After all there were 3 eligible brothers on that ranch."

Alfred had just come home from four years in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC's) in Custer State Park in the Black Hills. He joined the CCC's in 1934 beginning at Camp Pine Creek #1793 and moving on to Grace Coolidge Creek from there.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: We kids remember well the stories of how Dad helped build the wooden bridges along the hairpin turns in the Black Hills during his CCC days. We also heard how they built a museum with stone walls which stands to this day.) Fritz was discharged from the CCC on March 31st 1938.^x

Born April 16, 1913 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; Alfred "Fritz" Heggem, 98, Spearfish, SD died Thursday, November 24, 2011 at Spearfish Regional Hospital.

Alfred Heggem was born on April 16, 1913 at Minneapolis, MN to Peder and Olava (Sather) Heggem. The family moved to a homestead north of Camp Crook, SD shortly after he was born. He attended Slick Creek School graduating from 8th grade in 1927. He worked on the ranch until 1942 when he was inducted into the United States Army where he spent much of his enlistment in Nome, AK.

Alfred was married to Alice Lerseth on November 19, 1949 in Rollingwood, CA. They returned to their ranch north of Camp Crook, SD. He ranched until he was 75 years old when he retired to the family home in Buffalo, SD. They moved to the Ponderosa Apts. in Spearfish in 1998 where Alfred remained after Alice died in 2002.

In 2009, Alfred moved to Serenity Corner in Spearfish. Alfred was a member of Grand River Lutheran Church in Buffalo and Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spearfish, the American Legion Post #147, and the Buffalo Senior Citizens Center in Buffalo.

Alfred is survived by his sister, Pauline Bucher, Belle Fourche, SD; his children: Joyce (Lonnie) Bennett, Tacoma, WA; Alvin (Veronica) Heggem, Huber Heights, OH; Dan (Laura) Heggem, Lakewood, CO; Lavern (Monica) Heggem, UAE/Lago Vista, TX; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, his parents, Peder and Olava; brothers, Joseph, Melvin, Paul & Peder Royal (Roy) and sisters, Sophie Kappen and Lillian Lerseth.

Burial: Pine Slope Cemetery, Belle Fourche, Butte County, South Dakota, USA

^xFrom Items donated to the CCC Museum of South Dakota by the Heggem Family

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