Alvin Valentine Birgenheier, 76, of Sterling, passed away Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, in Sterling. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. A celebration of Al's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Chuck Vorderberg officiating. Services will conclude at the church.

Al was born Nov. 8, 1933, to Adam and Anna (Grossman) Birgenheier in Dickenson, N.D.
On July 29, 1952, Al enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at Amarillo AFB, Texas, where he served his country honorably in the Korean War. He completed tech school in Texas and worked as an air traffic controller in Osan Air Force Base in South Korea. He completed his official military duty in Denver at Lowry Air Force Base. While at Lowry Air Force Base he met the love of his life, Fonda Elaine Scheuerman. He was discharged July 28, 1956.

Al and Fonda were married on Feb. 20, 1955, at the Padroni Baptist Church. They started their new life together in Harlowton, Mont. In 1957, they moved back to Colorado. Al worked for longtime friend Bud Simpson with Sterling Construction for 15 years. He started his own business, BS Backhoe Service, which he operated for 20 years. At that time he continued to help out at Sterling Construction, doing whatever was needed of him.

Al and Fonda loved traveling to see and spend time with their family, making trips to Germany, as well as to almost every state in the union. He enjoyed spending many hours hunting and fishing with his sons and grandsons. Al was passionate about his family and nothing would make him happier than to be surrounded by his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids as well as special visits from his brothers and sisters-in-law. Al had the blessing to have made many friends throughout his life and will be greatly missed.
Al was a member of the American Legion Post No 20.

Mr. Birgenheier is survived by his loving wife, Fonda of Sterling; daughter, Rhonda Simants and husband Fred; son, Ron Birgenheier and wife Lee; son, Lee Birgenheier and wife Annette; son, Mike, all of Sterling; daughter, Lana Anderson and husband Scott of North Carolina; daughter, Tammy Jackson and husband Oliver of Arizona; son, Scott Birgenheier and wife Sam of Oklahoma; daughter, Becky McDermott and husband Greg of Denver; grandchildren, Cassie Baird, Nick Simants, Erin Simants, Chad Birgenheier, Bryan Moll, Chance Birgenheier, Jett Birgenheier, Jessica Birgenheier, Jamie Birgenheier, Sam Anderson, Andrew Jackson, Stacey Birgenheier, Jordan Birgenheier, Barney Birgenheier, Kayla Birgenheier, Kourtnie Birgenheier and Owen McDermott; five great-grandchildren, Maxwell, Hailey, Taylor, Brendan and Ella; brothers, George, Gene, and Glen of Billings, Mont., and Pat of Greeley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Anna; brothers, Archie and Richard; sister, Diane; and parents-in-law, Harry and Frieda Scheuerman.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, Sterling Regional MedCenter ICU or the First Baptist Church Building Fund