Charles A. "Chuck" Alberts, 91, of Sturgis, passed away at Sturgis Regional Hospital on Tuesday, February 8, 2011.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 19th at 11:00 a.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Chaplain Herbert Cleveland officiating. Chuck has been cremated, as per his request. A private, family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Chuck was born in Elkton, SD, to Arthur and Lola (Houser) Alberts on May 12, 1919. He was one of seven surviving children. He was raised in Elkton, Newell, and Deadwood, SD. He quit school in 9th grade to work and help support his family. During his teen years in Deadwood, Chuck delivered groceries and learned to repair shoes. He also became a Golden Gloves boxer during those years. Chuck married Beverly Mayer of Lead, SD, on June 28, 1941 in Broadus, MT.

Chuck was drafted into the Army and served from 1942 through 1945 in Iceland and in several countries in Europe under General George S. Patton. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and went in on Omaha Beach on the third day of the D-Day invasion. Chuck told many stories about beautiful places in Europe, the food, the music, and had tales of funny things that happened in the midst of such tragedy. However, in later years, when asked about going along with family on a tour of Europe, Chuck replied, "No, I've seen it and didn't care much for it."

After World War II, Chuck became a journeyman electrician, sheet metal worker, and welder. He worked on projects throughout the South and Midwest. After eight years in Pueblo, CO, Chuck and Bev moved back to the Black Hills in 1960. Chuck worked for Sam Fox, Inc. of Denver, CO, on the Titan Missile sites. He later worked for the Reber Company on the Minuteman Missile sites. Among other landmark places Chuck worked on in the five-state area, he helped build K Mart, the Federal Building, and Stevens High School in Rapid City, SD.

In 1970, Chuck won a battle with colon cancer and other difficult health issues and was no longer able to do construction work. A lifelong learner, he decided to go back to school after a 38 year absence. Because the anesthetics from his many surgeries had temporarily affected his vision, Chuck learned to read Braille so he could take courses from the Hadley School for the Blind in case he ever lost his sight. His eyes cleared up, though, so Chuck obtained his GED and enrolled at BHSU, graduating in 1975 with a degree in Sociology and Industrial Arts and a Minor in Spanish. He then went to work in the Sturgis Urban Renewal Office. He worked in the City Engineering and Inspection Office as the Sturgis City Building Inspector until his retirement in 1987.

In later years, Chuck spent many hours taking care of his wife, Bev, who suffered from a long illness prior to her death in 1998. During the five years Bev spent in the Sturgis Nursing Home, Chuck was there several hours every day, giving her extra care.

Chuck also spent many retirement hours making and painting wood projects for Cherie's preschool students as well as unique gifts for family and friends. He found artistic skills he didn't know he had. Chuck had very eclectic interest ranging from various types of books and music to foreign languages, Yoga, and martial arts. For Chuck's 85th birthday, Jerry Poteet, one of Bruce Lee's best friends, kindly answered a request from one of Chuck's daughters and sent him a birthday card. Chuck always kept it on his dresser.

Chuck's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were able to enjoy their own unique, personal relationships with him. As a father, he was always there to help his children, from making swing sets and playhouses to planting trees and standing up for us in any situation. If we needed something, we knew Dad could take care of it. That level of involvement continued into the following generations. His oldest granddaughter, Stephanie, remembers his beautifully-fashioned chocolate chip pancakes and sharing a meal of her special potato soup in later years. His oldest grandson, Jason, remembers how Papa taught him how to fish and how to drive and instilled in him a love of good literature and good music. The two spent countless hours together. Nobody could have been a better Papa. His two younger grandsons, currently in the Army, value Papa's strong spirit. He was the first warrior, and now they are continuing the same warrior tradition. As his grandson, Sgt. Daniel Two Crow, once said after a medical setback of Chuck's, "This won't keep him down. My grandpa's a fighter." When granddaughter, Mandy, was having a lot of trouble obtaining an important document, even though Chuck was in his eighties, he stormed over to the necessary office and practically staged a sit-in until he got Mandy the paper she needed. She will never forget that support. His grandson, Sgt. Robert McKee, has given Papa his own Airborne wings with which to soar through eternity, because Papa had always wanted to be Airborne. There was also so much more to Chuck than his accomplishments and fighting spirit, though. Granddaughter, Katy, remembers Papa as a constant source of wisdom and good advice. There wasn't ever a question that Papa didn't have the answer to. Those lessons will be used and passed on for a long, long time. Chuck and his son-in-law, Robert "Bill" McKee, enjoyed a father-son relationship, hunting and fishing together and sharing the fun of family picnics and Christmas tree hunting. A special "thank you" goes out to Bill for his hard work and selfless devotion for the past thirty years.

The family also has special memories of breakfasts at Papa and Grandma's house; eating peas from the garden, right off the vine; playing "Old Maid" without the Old Maid; picking chockcherries, building snowmen, leisurely days of coffee and cookies and all his meals at Cherie and Bill's home. Chuck had a great life. He loved being involved in all the busy, happy days of life that the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and preschool provided. Such fun, busy times! He was so blessed to live long enough to know his great-grandchildren, who referred to him as "Papa Jelly", because he always had jelly beans for them. (He had branched out from only the spiced gum drops that Steph remembers.) He took time to listen, laugh, and he dearly loved all the kids. He was so thrilled to hold his newest-born great-grandson, Jackson, last Christmas and get to know him. He also got to know great-grandson, Noah. Both of those little ones travel quite a bit with their military families. What a lucky Papa! We were so fortunate that Chuck never lost his communication skills or wit and sense of humor, even on his last day here. You were a class act all the way, Dad! You will be missed so much, but always dearly remembered. We love you, Dad. As the song says, you are here in our hearts, and our hearts will go on and on. Rest easy, Dad. We're okay, and a good share of it is because of how you taught us and helped us.

Chuck is survived by his three children, Mike (Francie) and Bonnie Alberts, Cherie (Bill) McKee, and Melissa Two Crow, all of Sturgis; six grandchildren, Stephanie (Rich) Weber, Elko, NV, Jason McKee, Kennewick, WA, Mandy McKee, Sturgis, Bobby (Elizabeth) McKee, Ft. Sill, OK, Danny (Nikki) Two Crow, Colorado Springs, CO, and Katy (Derek) Hemenway, Sturgis; seven great-grandchildren, Danae, Ethan, Lexi, and Landon, all of Sturgis, Noah of Colorado, Jackson of Oklahoma, and Bryton of Nevada; one sister, LaRayne Mertz, Fairbanks, AK; and various nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Other special people in Chuck's life include: Yvette (Scott) and Thomas Rikli, Windsor, CO, Roger Two Crow; Jason Baker, Josh Houchin, Terry Pippinich, Vicki and Merlyn Fiscus and their extended family, and Melissa's former students from Brazil, Japan, and many other countries.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers, and three sisters.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Chuck's name to charitable organizations such as the Arbor Day Foundation or any other organization which helps people or the environment.