One of the most notorious crimes in North Dakota history has reverberated through several generations of Larry Lee Kruckenberg’s German-Russian family.
The brutal murder of 16-year-old Alma Louise Kruckenberg at the hands of her minister on August 16, 1938, was shocking enough. The subsequent confession, trial, and sentencing of her murderer took place with astonishing speed, leaving Alma’s family and friends barely enough time to process the horrifying event. Lurid details of the crime have been passed down from one generation to the next, becoming distorted with every telling.
In a meticulously researched retelling, the nephew Alma never knew provides a painstaking account of murder and motive, uncovering some secrets along the way. More than 80 years after the crime, the author sheds new light on what transpired, finally laying to rest a tragedy that has haunted his family for decades.
Through official court transcripts, archived newspaper articles, writings from the murderer, conversations with elders who still remember, and traces of Alma’s diary that have been lost to time, Larry Kruckenberg tells the complete story of a crime that one captivated attention around the world, finally giving voice to the victim.
The author writes in his Prologue, “Alma Luise Kruckenberg was the aunt I never knew. I visited Alma’s gravesite often during the time I lived in North Dakota. I recall once taking my mother along when she was in her 70s. I hoped that she might open up and share more information about what happened. Instead, she got quite emotional. All she said was, “You really would have liked her.” Additionally, I also had the pleasure of talking to many elders from, and ties to, the Krem area of Mercer County who still held memories that needed to be tapped.”
About the Author
Larry Lee Kruckenberg is a retired agency administrator. His award-winning career spanned nearly 50 years with two state wildlife agencies – North Dakota and Wyoming. His first book, “Big Bend Country: A Journey of Good Times, Hard Times, and Hope”, debuted in November 2020, and continues to receive high praise. Besides writing, Kruckenberg is an accomplished photographer. Kruckenberg was born and raised in western North Dakota at Beulah and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology/Wildlife Biology from North Dakota State University.
