North Dakota was in mourning as Alexander Stern, pioneer Fargo merchant, banker, builder and civic leader, was buried in the city which had been his home since 1881.
Mr. Stern’s brilliant career was ended this week when he died at seventy-six, after a five-months’ illness.
As a tribute to his memory Governor William Langer proclaimed the hours of his funeral a period of respect and ordered the suspension of all business in State offices during that time. Mayor F. O. Olsen of Fargo followed suit and closed all city offices during the time. All banks in Fargo were also closed during the hours of the funeral.
Mr. Stern operated the largest clothing establishment in Fargo, which he organized in 1881. He was president of the Dakota National Bank which he founded in 1921; chairman of the board of the Northern and Dakota Trust Co., and interested in his vast real estate holdings.
He was Fargo’s wartime mayor; a member of the state legislature; director of the Board of Education; City Commissioner and a director on the board of the North Dakota Agricultural college at Fargo.
Mr. Stern was one of the founders of the Fargo B’nai B’rith lodge; North Dakota treasurer for the United Jewish Appeal for twelve years from 1915; trustee of the Cleveland Orphans Home; North Dakota director for the National Jewish Hospital at Denver and one of the founders of Fargo’s only synagogue.
He is survived by three sons, William and Sam, Fargo, and Edward, New York City, and a sister, Mrs. Emilie Kahn, Minneapolis.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
