Victor Wald, 89, of Napoleon, passed away August 12 at Sanford Hospital, Bismarck, ND.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Napoleon. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, August 18, 2023, at 10:30 am at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Napoleon. Burial will be held at St Philip Neri Catholic Church, Napoleon.  A livestream of Victor's funeral service will be available on the St. Philip Neri Catholic Church Facebook page or St Philip Neri Napoleon YouTube page.

Victor was born April 14, 1934, the youngest child and only son of Stanis Wald and Agatha (Wangler) Wald.  He was a big strapping baby, (14 pounds), but he was always his mother's Engela (angel). Victor grew to be a big man with hands and feet that astonished people who saw him dance and play the accordion.  How could those big hands and fingers play the accordion and piano keys so deftly?

Victor married the love of his life Barbara (Reis) on April 21, 1954, at St. Boniface Catholic Church. Victor and Barb were lifelong residents of Logan County, they farmed and raised their children a few miles north of Napoleon. When Barbara died on June 21, 2021, Victor was devastated.  Barbara did everything for Victor and it gives their family comfort to imagine their heavenly reunion.

At an early age, Victor was interested in music and learned to play the accordion at 14 from his Uncle John Wangler.  And play he did!  Weddings, reunions, anniversaries, retirements, specials events like Sauerkraut Day in Wishek, Oktoberfest in Napoleon and for the beverage dealers and hospitality in Bismarck for the legislators.  Barb and Victor's calendar was full of commitments to perform for many years.  They were favorite entertainers at senior centers, nursing homes, VFW's, American Legion, Eagles, Moose, Amvets and many many singles dances.

Victor was a lifetime member of the Dakota Music Association Hall of Fame and in 2001 was inducted into the Dakota Musicians Hall of Fame.

Victor and Barbara met so many people over the years and loved to visit old friends and new ones.  In the early years, Sunday soup at their house and birthday parties were the norm and so enjoyed.  Family and friends know that you were loved and cherished.

Victor and Barbara had six children; John (Carmen), Jeffrey (Tammy), Vicki (Steve) Thomas, Victor (Sue), Gregory (Twyla), and Valerie Wald; 16 adored grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren; Whitney, Wyatt, and Wade Rath-Wald, Jaren Wald, Vanessa, Vonda, and Victoria Thomas, Alex, Austin, Logan, and Lucas Wald, Josh, Amber, and Morgan Wald, Eric and Amanda Lipp; great-grandchildren, Dain, Emelia, Dax, Thea, Kohley, Elsian, Orion, Jackson, Juniper, Pierce, Waylon, Violet, Bentley, McKoy, Stetson, Brekka, Emery, Hadley, Blake Victor, Markell, Payson, Iylee, Koy, Kylynn, Quinn, and Lincoln.

Victor was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Weston Rath-Wald; great grandchild Echo Bostrom; his three siblings and their spouses; Betty (Valentine) Fettig, Phyllis (Henry) Volk and Anna Marie (Norman) Ballard; ten of Barbara's siblings and spouses were there to greet Victor in Heaven, leaving Alvera (Tony) Leier and Angeline Geiger to mourn their loss.