Alfred C. Reger

Alfred C .Reger, “Al” Age 99 of Minneapolis, passed away peacefully April 10, 2020 from natural causes.  Preceded in death by wife, Mary “Billie” Reger; son, James Reger; parents, James and Kathryn Reger; sister, Rita Snell; brothers, Marvin, Gordon, Thomas, Clifford and James Reger.

Survived by daughter, Kathleen Reger; sons, John, Jerry and Kevin (Jennifer) Reger; grandchildren, Kelly, Ryne, Shaylynn, Burke, Mercedes and Shea (Courtney) Reger; great-grandchild, Boom Reger; brother, Jerry Reger; and many nieces and nephews. “It’s been a great show and we had a hell of a run!”  That was the phrase of gratitude Al Reger told his family he wanted to be remembered by.  Al grew up in the Ascension Parish of North Minneapolis during the Great Depression in a family with 8 children.  With a disabled father, Al was already earning money for the family in first grade, selling homemade doughnuts door-to-door.  At De La Salle High School he became Class President and captain of the basketball team.

He enlisted in the U.S Navy after World II broke out, serving as a Lieutenant J.G., pilot and flight instructor in the Hawaiian Islands.  He met the love of his life on Maui in what he called a Hollywood movie romance: on an island with 250,000 servicemen and 5 female Navy nurses, he met Billie as they left morning Mass during Lent.  As a Registered Nurse, she outranked Al when they first met.  Throughout the years Al often joked that every morning he had to stand at attention and salute his Superior Officer.  They were married in 1949 and raised 5 children in Robbinsdale.  Al went on to become President of C.J. Duffey Paper Company.

Dedicated to Catholic education, Al was instrumental in starting the Archdiocese’s fundraising program, the construction of a new wing and church in St. Austin’s parish and is credited with saving what is now Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School after its announced closure in 1970. Family was always priority number one.  A devoted husband, father and grandfather, his favorite times were laughing and talking, surrounded by the people he loved.  Al’s warmth and fun-loving sense of humor brightened the day of any visitor.  Modest and compassionate, he never turned away anyone who came to him for advice, for help with troubles of any kind or just needing a shoulder to cry on.   Al’s true love was Billie.  They enjoyed 70 years of marriage, sharing their deep Catholic faith and their love of family.  When she passed away 11 weeks earlier he found peace in knowing she was waiting in heaven.

A great light of the Greatest Generation has gone out.  But Al’s legacy will forever shine in the people and institutions he loved when they needed it most.  Due to Covid-19 concerns a private service has already been held.  Memorials preferred to Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, De La Salle High School or Church of the Ascension.