Former Rep. Wald passes away

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Former Rep. Frank Wald, R-Dickinson, passed away shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday at his home in Dickinson.

Former Rep. Jasper Schneider, a Democrat from Fargo, said he was saddened to hear of Wald’s passing.

“My father and I both served in the House of Representatives with Frank Wald,” Schneider said. “Rep. Wald was an effective legislator and dedicated public servant for three decades. We agreed on issues more times than not, and Frank always had Dickinson and North Dakota’s best interests in mind.”

Former District 36 Rep. CB “Buck” Haas served with Wald in the Legislature for 10 years and also knew him through the Dickinson Rotary Club.

“He was a very very fine legislator,” he said. “He looked at things objectively and was not the kind of guy who was provincial.”

Haas said when he was a freshmen legislator he could always go to Wald and trust him. Wald was balanced and never went overboard with his opinions, he added.

There are three main areas Haas recalls that Wald was most passionate about including, working hard to make sure Dickinson State University’s buildings were kept up-to-date.

He also, in his early years in office, fought for fairness when it came to oil development and reclamation.

Wald was helpful about getting funding for the Southwest Pipeline project but he was also concerned about water across North Dakota, Haas said.

Rep. Duane DeKrey, R-Pettibone, said his best memory of Wald is how he could speak on the House floor.

“He could really change the emotion of the body and bring people over to his side,” DeKrey said.

House Majority Leader Al Carlson of Fargo said Wald was a good legislator and a good friend.

“He served his community well,” Carlson said.

Rep. Blair Thoreson, R-Fargo, said Wald will be greatly missed.

"Frank Wald was no-nonsense. Conservative. Straightforward. But no matter how tough the battle was, Frank always seemed to have a smile in his eyes," Thoreson said. "He was a master of the legislative process, and our state - especially his beloved western North Dakota - is a better place because of his service."

Funeral arrangements are pending with Ladbury Funeral Service.

For more on Rep. Wald’s legacy, see Thursday’s Dickinson Press.

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