HAYS – Alex Fredrick Bisterfeldt, age 90, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, at the Hays Good Samaritan Center, Hays,. He was born May 21, 1920, in rural Ellsworth County to Carl and Dorothea (Funk) Bisterfeldt. He married Theresa (Short) on Oct.26, 1946, at Hays. She died Septe. 9, 2000.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during WW II. He attended school North of Holyrood, and then joined the Army in 1939. Then he attended High School in Camp Polk in Leesville, La., in 1942. In the Army he served in the Second Tank Battalion, Ninth Armored Division, European Theatre of Operation, including the Battle of The Bulge. He also acted as an interpreter for captured German soldiers. He received the Bronze Star, The Presidential Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre.

He was a heavy-duty mechanic in Civil Service on a Military Base in Barstow , Calif., for about 35 years. He lived in Great Bend, Pratt and moved to Hays Good Samaritan Center in 2009. He was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his nephew, Wayne Fager and wife Peggy, Hays; and many more nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; four brothers, Carl, Peter, Victor and Delbert Bisterfeldt; six sisters, Marie Ochs, Sophie Pugh, Tracy Kiehle, Elfrieda Fager, Emma Stafford, and Lou Ella Bisterfeldt.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Wilson Funeral Home in El Reno, Okla. Burial will be in El Reno City Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Friday at the Wilson Funeral Home El Reno. Cline’s Mortuary of Hays is in charge of local arrangements. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net.