Alexander Alex Punton, Jr., 88, Valley City, ND, died Thursday, October 31, 2024 at CHI-Mercy Hospital in Valley City.  A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, November 11 in the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be Sunday, November 10 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the funeral home.  A prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM Sunday evening.  Interment will be in the Buffalo City Cemetery, Buffalo, ND.  An online guestbook and livestream of his service will be available at www.lerudmathias.com.  

Alexander Younie Punton, Jr., was born November 13, 1935 in the Wurzer maternity house in Page, ND to Alexander Younie Punton, Sr. and Bertha (Siewert) Punton.  Alex was raised on the family farm in Ayr, ND with one younger brother, Charles and three sisters, Patricia, Kathy and Annabelle.  Kathy and Charles lived into adulthood, but Patricia and Annabelle died in infancy.  Alex attended Hill Country School from kindergarten until sixth grade.  He then attended Ayr High School, graduating in 1954.  He went on to North Dakota State School of Science (Wahpeton, ND) and received his degree in Diesel Engine Technology.  After his graduation, he was hired by Mars Equipment, the International Harvester dealer in Page, where he worked as a mechanic.  In 1957, the dealership was sold and became Anderson Equipment, Alex continued as a mechanic and began the parts department.  Alex’s knowledge of part numbers for machinery was phenomenal, he could recite the numbers without looking them up from many years past.  During his time at the dealership, he still helped at the family farm and later had cattle and farmed on his own.  In January, 1964 he married Kathy Louise Ramey of McHenry, ND.  The marriage produced two sons.  Scott was born in 1966 and Thomas in 1976.  

In 1968, Alex made the decision to join the dealership full time and started as a machinery salesman for Anderson Equipment.  In 1974, he bought the IH Dealership and continued to run it as a full line dealership with a new shop facility.  He also sold short line equipment for Westgo Farm King, Bush Hog and Goodyear tires just to name a few of the many lines.  In 1985, the Agricultural Division of International Harvester was sold to Tenneco Oil to form Case-IH.  At this time, Alex moved his dealership to Valley City as a Case-IH Bobcat dealer where it remains today as an independent parts and repair facility.

Alex was an active member in the Page community.  He was on the Page City Council for over 30 years and a founding member of the Page Rural Fire Department and Ambulance.  He was also a life-long member of the Masonic Lodge and the Eagles and Elks Clubs in Valley City.  He was instrumental in building two separate HUD housing units in Page for the seniors in the area.  He was also on the Zoning Board in Valley City for several years.

Always willing to extend a helping hand and wanting to do his best for a person in need.  Alex will always be remembered not to turn a person away if he thought he could help.  He traveled to many states to get tractors, combines or any equipment a farmer would need.  He also would extend a helping hand to other dealers that had equipment he could sell, trade or swap so he could keep the farmer going.  It was recently recalled that on a trip to Winkler, Manitoba to get sunflower attachments that he gave his talent of welding and painting to get his load done and home on time.  

He was fortunate to have been able to travel abroad to Australia, England, Scotland, Mexico and all of the United States with Kathy, Scott and Thomas to visit family and friends.  His presence and warmth will be greatly missed.  

Alex is survived by his two children, Scott Punton, Valley City and Thomas Punton, Casselton, ND; a brother, Charles Punton, Hillsboro, ND; numerous cousins nieces and nephews.

Alex was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathy; infant sisters, Patricia and Annabelle; and an adult sister, Kathy.