Stanley Halling

Stanley “Stan” D. Halling, 86, Bismarck, passed away in the hospital May 10, 2023 from pancreatic cancer.  A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, May 18 at First Presbyterian Church, 214 E Thayer, Bismarck. Family will greet guests one hour prior at the church. 

Stanley was born to Lewis and Dora (Dressen) Halling in Rugby. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Bisbee, where he learned the discipline of hard work and valuable life lessons from his parents which he benefitted from his whole life. He attended Johnson Country School through the eighth grade, getting to and from school on his horse.  For the remainder of his education, he attended Bisbee High School and graduated with the Class of 1954. Stan furthered his education by attending North Dakota Agricultural College and eventually graduated with a degree in elementary education from Valley City State Teachers College.  He never stopped learning.  He became a pilot and enjoyed flying his family around North Dakota and Minnesota.  He attended national science conventions and took graduate classes in science that took him from the Badlands of North Dakota to the Churchill, Manitoba on the Hudson Bay.

He was eager to begin teaching and did so in New Salem, teaching seventh grade students. After four years in New Salem, Stan and his family moved to Bismarck where he continued teaching life science at Hughes Junior High. Just a few years prior to his retirement, he created a program to help fourth grade teachers enrich their science curriculum and traveled to those classrooms to show students the fun and excitement of science.  Stan’s greatest joy in the classroom came from what his students were able to achieve, both in the classroom and in the years to come. Many students that Stan visited with in later years mentioned that he inspired them to pursue various careers in the health and science fields or how much they enjoyed his class. 

In addition to his career in education, he also took on the title “Coach.” Stan initiated a seventh-grade wrestling program at Hughes, where he coached the team for 10 years. His years as a coach and mentor led him to be awarded the Junior High Coach of the Year 1965-66 and later inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1996.  

On June 2, 1958, Stan married Alice Keller, his high school sweetheart, on the Halling family farm in Bisbee. Together they two raised their daughters, Amy and Melissa.  Stan and Alice had a dream to live in the country.  To make that dream come true, they tore down old barns and used the lumber to build their home south of Bismarck.  Working together, they enjoyed completing their home and improving the property with gardens and trees.  They also enjoyed cutting and splitting wood to burn in the stove that heated their home.  They did make time for fun, traveling around the world visiting Panama and Italy and going on cruises to Alaska, the northeastern seaboard of the United States and the Danube River.

In his earlier years, Stan enjoyed spending time hunting in Montana and Idaho and on the prairie alone and with valued friends and devoted dogs. In later years, Stan enjoyed the nice green grass on the golf course with more fun friends who enriched his retirements years.  He was interested in cooking, photography and music.

Stan is survived by his wife, Alice; daughters, Amy Reese and Melissa Halling; two grandchildren, Alexandra Park and Theodora Reese; brother, Rodney Halling; and sisters, Dianne Hendrickson and Sandra Oakland.

He was preceded in death by his parents. 

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be sent to the Central Dakota Humane Society, 2104 37th St, Mandan, ND 58554; or to the First Presbyterian Church, 214 E Thayer Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501. 

To share memories of Stan and to sign the online guestbook, go to www.eastgatefuneral.com.