Thomas Edward Alberts was born November 24, 1945, to Ramauld and Victoria (Twiggs) Alberts of St. Michael, North Dakota. He was the second oldest of their seven children and spent most of his childhood at their family home-site near St. Michael. Thomas was an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation of Fort Totten, North Dakota, and on his mother's side was a descendant of the Hunkpapa Lakota and Sicangu Lakota.

During his teen years and early adulthood he attended the Chilocco Indian Boarding School located in Chilocco, Okla., and graduated from the vocational education and training institution in 1966.

Thomas had an extremely strong sense of family and was always a caring and thoughtful brother, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather. He carried those same valuable qualities into his line of work. Thomas had several years of dedicated service in law enforcement as both a police officer and dispatcher for the Fort Totten Police Department and the Fort Berthold Bureau of Indian Affairs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He was always concerned for people's safety and well-being.

In October 1979, Thomas married Laurie Wells of Parshall, and through this union they had four daughters, Vonnie Jo, Vicki Marie, Vanessa Katherine and their baby, Alyssa Ann. They resided in Parshall in the early '80s and later moved to New Town. While in New Town, Thomas continued to work in law enforcement and in 1993 when the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge first opened its doors, he served as the Security Department Supervisor. In addition to his work history, throughout the '90s, he was employed with the Three Affiliated Tribes Security Department and with the Minne-Tohe Indian Health Service Maintenance Department prior to his retirement.

Although Thomas was not originally from the Fort Berthold Reservation, he was well respected and embraced by the people of the Three Affiliated Tribes. He had much compassion for their traditional ways and often said he considered Fort Berthold his home.

During all of his years at Fort Berthold he made several good friends and will be remembered for his cheerful humor and positive personality. Despite his ill health later in life, Thomas was strong-willed and always told his daughters to think positive and make the best of a bad situation.

Thomas thought highly of his children, and his children and grandchildren thought highly of him. Surprisingly, Thomas was surrounded by all females and always sought only the best for all of them, his wife, Laurie; his daughters, Vonnie, Vicki, and Alyssa; his granddaughters, Vonica, Vivica, Danica, and Arikaree. These eight women were truly the love of his life.

Thomas continued to express his strength, determination and immeasurable love for life and family even in his final hours. Leaves Sacred Tracks journeyed from this life Saturday, June 6, 2009, with his wife, children, sisters, and nieces at his side.

He is survived by: his wife, Laurie Alberts, New Town; daughters, Vonnie Jo Alberts (Rabbit Woman), Vicki Marie Alberts (Bluecorn Woman), Alyssa Ann Alberts (Last Child), all of New Town, and Tammy Alberts of Oklahoma; son, Thomas Edward Alberts, Jr., Arizona; granddaughters, Vonica, Vivica (Blue Eagle Girl), Danica (Red Eagle Girl), and Arikaree, all of New Town, and Jaci of Arizona; grandsons, Jerremy and Jerrod of Oklahoma; sisters, Julia Ann Smith of Bismarck, Myra (Frank) Lohnes of Bismarck, Cynthia Alberts of St. Michaels; brothers, Joe Alberts of St. Michaels, Ramauld Alberts, Jr. of Bismarck.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Henry Alberts; stillborn infant daughter, Vanessa Katherine Alberts.

Wake services: Scheduled for today, June 11, 2009, at 5 p.m. at the New Town Civic Center.

Funeral services: Friday, June 12, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, New Town.

Interment: At Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, Raub, N.D.

Online condolences may be sent at (www.langhansfuneralhome.com).

(Langhans Funeral Home, New Town)