Alex Anthony Moch was born into this world on February 8, 2001. It was a cold and snowy day, the type of day that he liked. Alex had a big round head, a sweet smile, yet was born finicky. As a youngster, the trips home after his mom was done teaching always began with “What’s for supper?” These were carefully planned conversations between his mom and himself. If she said, “Well, Alex, I have some hamburger taken out,” he would wonder what would be made. If she said, “I was thinking we’d have spaghetti”, he’d always follow with, “Is it going to have yunyuns?” Now here was the tricky part, for if she said yes, he’d go into full fits. As he grew older, that didn’t change much. He didn’t much care for leftovers and preferred to eat cheese quesadillas. That kid ate his weight in cheese many times over in his lifetime.

When Alex was born, his big sister took one look and said, “Dad, leave that baby with Mom. Let’s go home.” However, that was short lived as Alex and Maddie grew to become the best of friends. They had different interests but always connected on a deeper level. He was her Biggie Boy.

Later when Sterling and Gabe joined the Moch family, Alex became the big brother to his other best friends. They could easily share insults, none of which will be shared here. When Alex moved back home, he loved playing Farm Sim but also enjoyed times with Gabe and Sterling in the basement, playing music and video games. Sterling felt a deep responsibility in being Alex’s keeper, always trying to protect him yet support him. Yet even with his love and support, Alex could not be saved. Additionally, he enjoyed fishing with Gabe, and his final breath was taken at a place where the two shared great times together, searching for the biggest bass.

The bond between the kids was strong. Times spent at Sunday suppers, grilling steaks, laughing and singing old country, eighties music, or anything they deemed “cool” on the deck were a mainstay. Also, many a times were spent playing board games like Trivial Pursuit, Anomia, and Monopoly, at least until someone got upset and threw the board across the room. Family was important to Al. He greatly enjoyed the times spent with his Dad, working on his 58 Chevy or any of his various vehicles. A few weeks ago, Alex and his Dad went to an auction sale, not to buy anything but to look. Most days, he and his Dad would chat, discussing farming and crops, prices and weather.

He also enjoyed his cousins and was privileged to be part of his cousin group chat. Even though they were much older, Jacob and William, Dani and Sam, Ali, and David were his daily source of laughter.

Alex was an old soul. He loved Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Chris Christopherson, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, all the favorites. He loved obscure songs. He credited his love of music to his Mom who subjected her kids to hours of music in the mini-van be it old country, Bruce Sprinsteen, the Offspring, Green Day, or Tom Petty. He was a karaoke king and would not pass up a chance to sing with his friends and even could sing a Pink Pony Club rendition with the best of them. Alex was a dancer, too, and any chance he’d get, he’d swing dance or two-step with the ladies. Alex also had a multitude of friends from far and near. Old friends or ones he just met, people were important to Al. He didn’t care who you were, whether you were white or black, purple or red, gay or straight, man or woman, he accepted all people. He was genuine and true and loyal to the core, a shirt off his back type of guy.

Alex was blessed to have a strong education. As a youngster, he was on the math team at DLB and qualified for the state geography bee while in sixth grade at Jim Hill. In high school, he was a proud member of the FFA team and helped with the lights and sound system with Austin Geltel at the plays and musicals. School was easy for him, he’d always say. If his mom wanted him to help his younger brothers with math, he could give the answer, but he wasn’t able to show the process. He forever was talked to about showing his work. He excelled at math and sciences, yet could easily write a paper, especially if the topic was on trucks. He loved music, so it was no wonder he developed a strong bond with Keri Hess, the choir teacher at Mandan High. Alex graduated with honors from Mandan in 2019. After high school, Alex attended BSC and obtained his AAS Agriculture Industry and Technology degree in 2021.

With this degree in hand, he worked at a DFC in New Salem, and later was employed with Alan, Stacy, and Jordan Miller as a farmhand, and this was last employment. Alex enjoyed farming and feeling, as any farmer does, that his work fed the world. He loved tilling the land, spraying the crops, and harvesting the bounty. He liked running machinery. He worked hard, and even though he had long days and nights, he woke each morning, ready to tackle the day.

Alex valued his Catholic faith and attended area Sunday masses when he could. He was a good soul that emulated the qualities of Jesus. He cared for others, he was compassionate to the downtrodden, he put others before himself, all of which made his parents so very proud.

Now with all the good attributes of Alex, he had his demons, and these led to his demise. He struggled with depression a great deal of his life, and this, coupled with the battle of having Type I diabetes took a toll. He was loved and loved others, but the one person he could not love or find value with was himself. He succumbed to all of this and took his life on October 5, 2026. The great sadness he felt is now gone. Alex is now free to love, free to be happy, free to find joy. The joy people felt with him he can now feel himself. We love you Alex, and all of us are hoping for your life with Jesus to be one of peace.

Alex is survived by his parents, Trevor and Kathleen; his sister Madison and her boyfriend Tyler Sathre; his brother Sterling and his girlfriend Rylee Weisenburger; his brother Gabriel and his girlfriend Allie Nybaken; his Grandma Rosemarie Birrenkott; his Uncle Joe and Aunt Nancy Birrenkott; his Uncle Tim and Aunt Chris Birrenkott; his Uncle John Birrenkott; his Uncle Paul Birrenkott; his Aunt Sharon Birrenkott; his Aunt Mary and Uncle James Dewald; his Uncle Bill Birrenkott, and his Birrenkott cousins, Sarah, Bridget, Joseph, Ben, Pamela, Michael, Grace, Andrew, Jacob, William, Eddie, Dani, Sam, Ali, Jared, David, and Tyler; his Grandma Dianne Moch; his Aunt Tatia Moch; his Uncle Tracy and Aunt Paula Moch; his Uncle Tory Moch; and his Moch cousins, Tianne, Johanna, Tracy Jo, Vonn, and Cambree. He is also survived by his many, many dear friends, too numerous to name. Alex was proceeded in death by his Grandpa Joe Birrenkott; his Uncle Jim Birrenkott; his cousin Mason Devore; and his Grandpa Alex Moch.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10AM on Saturday, October 10, at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, 801 1st St. SE, Mandan, ND. 

Visitation will be held from 5-7PM on Friday, October 9, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 3117 E Century Ave., Bismarck. A Vigil service will begin at 7PM with a time of sharing to follow. Visitation will continue one hour prior to Mass at the church. 

Burial will be held at St. John’s Cemetery, Mandan.