Mary Lois (Dick) Legreid
(1919 - 2002)
Family History of Firemann Legreid (Written September 10, 2001)
Firemann Legreid was born in Maddock on March 14, 1918, the youngest child of Gunder and Marie (Larson) Legreid. He was baptized and confirmed at North Viking. On June 3, 1945 he married Mary Lois Dick at North Viking. Miss Dick had come to Maddock to teach school in 1941, having received her bachelor’s degree from Valley City State Teachers College. She was born on October 11, 1919 in Bismarck, North Dakota, the only daughter and middle child of Charles and Helen (Marsh) Dick and raised in Courtenay, North Dakota.
Firemann had a dairy operation on a farm north of Maddock. Milk, bottled on the farm, was delivered to stores, schools, and homes. Empty bottles were picked up and taken back to the farm for washing before being filled and delivered again. In the early days the milk was delivered in a horse-drawn sleigh. The horses would stop in front of each house without prompting.
Firemann became a Licensed Master Plumber and began Legreid Plumbing and Heating, a business from which he retired in 1981. In 1949, The Maddock Standard reported, "A new Heating and Plumbing establishment was started in Maddock, Feb. 10th, with the announcement of Mr. Firemann Legreid as manager and owner. Mr. Legreid will be exclusive agent for the Crane Fittings and Fixture Company." In 1950 they moved into town. During his 32 years in the contracting business he operated out of a main street shop, employed several assistants, and handled projects in Fessenden, Devils Lake, Minnewaukan, and Leeds.
Mary Lois taught school for a short time after they were married then returned to teaching in 1963. She taught English and typing at BCATS.
Firemann served on the board of the Maddock Community Center for several years and has been an active member of North Viking Lutheran Church, Commercial Club, Kiwanis Club, and Country Club. Mary Lois was active in the church, Viking Homemakers, bridge club, and Country Club.
In 1994 they bought a condo in Bismarck while maintaining their residence in Maddock. In 1997 they sold their Maddock home to nephew Lyndon (and Janet) Olson, and purchased a home in Bismarck, where they currently reside. They are active members of Sons of Norway, Golden K Kiwanis, the Wednesday Retirees Breakfast Club, the Westerners, and enjoy participating in bank-sponsored tours and events.
Firemann and Mary Lois have three children. Harold Bruce, named after Firemann’s brother Harold who died when he was 14 years old, was born June 4, 1947; Pamela Jean, born July 19, 1951; and Bradley Dick, born April 8, 1956, was given his mother’s maiden name as a middle name. All three children were baptized and confirmed at North Viking.
Harold, the oldest son, graduated from North Dakota State University in 1969, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He received his MBA from the University of Minnesota in 1977. Harold served in the US Army in 1970-71, and attained the rank of 1st Lt. while stationed in Korea. He is President of Fargo Assembly Co., a wire harness company based in Fargo.
On August 31, 1968 Harold married Linda Wick, born June 28, 1947, oldest daughter of Myrtle (Person) and Leonard Wick, at North Viking. Linda attended the University of North Dakota and graduated with a degree in Elementary/Special Education from Moorhead State University in 1969. She currently teaches fourth grade at Probstfield Elementary in Moorhead, MN.
Harold and Linda have two children. Brent was born May 18, 1974 and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1997. Brent married Andrea Brandt in Algona, Iowa on January 3, 1998. Brent is a Captain in the Engineering Corps of the US Army. Andrea, also a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Iowa State, is employed as a design engineer for Tesco.
Harold and Linda’s daughter Anna was born December 18, 1976. She is completing her doctorate in Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota. Anna married Jeff Lindlief on August 29, 1998 at Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo. Jeff grew up in Wadena, MN, and graduated from Concordia College. He later earned his master’s degree from Bethel College and teaches fifth grade at Eden Prairie, Minnesota where he is also the head girls’ track coach.
Pam obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at NDSU from the College of Home Economics. She has been a teacher, public health administrator, and education consultant. Pam married Jim Vukelic from Mott, ND, on August 25, 1978 at North Viking. Jim is Chief Prosecutor for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and formerly served as chief deputy attorney general and as a district court judge. Jim is the son of Edward and Helen Irene (Burwick) Vukelic. Jim and Pam have two children. Reed Charles (named after his great-grandfather Charles Dick) was born April 15, 1980 in Hettinger, North Dakota. Meredith Leigh was born December 18, 1984, also in Hettinger.
Bradley graduated from NDSU in 1979 with a major in Agricultural Mechanization. Since graduation he has worked in Bismarck for Morton Buildings, Production Credit Association, and Bank of North Dakota. He is presently a loan officer at Bank Center First. On August 29, 1981, Brad married Sherry Schlichenmayer, daughter of Ruben and Viona (Grueneich) Schlichenmayer of Bismarck, at Bismarck Baptist Church. Sherry is an accountant at Capital Electric Cooperative. They have two children also. Jacob Morgan (J. Morgan) was born September 24, 1992 and Janell Kaydee was born December 12, 1995. They both attend Shiloh Christian School.