Alan J. Teige, 58, Minot, was taken home to his Heavenly Father's Kingdom on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.

Alan Joseph Teige was born at Saint Francis Hospital, Peoria, IL on April 4, 1958 to Ardell and Phyllis (Johnson) Teige. He lived in Madison, WI for a short period of time. He lived the majority of his formative years in East Peoria, IL. He played Little League Baseball for several years. Alan attended in succession: Ward Grundy Elementary, Pleasant Hill Grade School, Glendale Grade School, Central Junior High School, and East Peoria Community High School. He was a member of the U.S. Bicentennial graduating high school class of 1976.

Alan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, taking boot training at Camp Pendleton, CA. His service duties included serving as a military policeman, field artillery scout observer, and as security detail while aboard naval vessels. He participated in several overseas 'floats' during his four years, having ports-of-call in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. During his career in the Marines he was awarded the M16 Sharpshooter Badge, M16 Expert Badge, Cal Pistol Expert Badge, and the Sea Service Medal.

Upon his separation from the service he made his life-long home in Minot, North Dakota. His parents had relocated there in 1977. Alan held various jobs at a number of local employers such as Farroh Roof Truss, An-Dee Drilling, Pizza Hut, the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, and the Vocational Workshop of Minot. For medical reasons, he withdrew from the workforce in the winter of 2014.

Alan shared his life with his brother Steven, who also lived in Minot. He attended Minot State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. Alan was a graduate of the North Dakota Law Enforcement Academy at Lake Region State College of Devils Lake, ND in 2007. He achieved 'top marksman' honors as a member of his class.

Alan developed a life interest in working with wood, and in sharpening his expanding skills as a motor vehicle mechanic. Both talents came naturally to him, seeming to inherit them from his father Ardell. Alan won praise for building a Cherrywood roll-top desk in his high school shop class. His friends could vouch for his undeniable passion for Western Red Cedar and Diamond Willow.

Highway travel required the constant inclusion of a myriad of tools and critical spare parts. His first car was his pride and joy, a maroon 1968 Plymouth Road Runner two-door, with a 383-cubic inch engine. While in North Dakota, he took an ever greater interest in nature photography, using a SLR camera. The state's colorful and riveting frontier history led him to casually explore its role in the American fur trade.

Alan enjoyed the outdoors life with great zest, learning the habits of upland game, pronghorn antelope, whitetail and mule deer. Friends and family were a necessary part of his numerous trips to western North Dakota since 1980.

Alan is survived by his father, Ardell Teige, Buffalo, MN; brothers, Brian Teige, Peoria, IL and Steven Teige, Minot, ND; sisters, Valerie Khafaji, Denton, TX and Lorrie Teige, Buffalo, MN.

Alan was preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis (Johnson) Teige, who was a native of Manvel, ND.

Graveside Service with military honors: 12:00 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2017, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND.
Visitation: Thursday, March 2, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Great Plains Food Bank.