Timothy Dean Dockter "Pucky", 68 of Linton, ND passed away on June 4, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones at Sanford Health after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Monday, June 9, 2025 at Peace Lutheran Church, Linton with Pastor Sean Barnhart officiating.  Burial will be at St. Andrew's Lutheran Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5pm to 6pm on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Peace Lutheran Church.  There will be a prayer service at 6pm.

Tim was born March 8, 1957 in Linton North Dakota to Alfred and Elaine (Deile) Dockter.  The second of six children, he grew up on a dairy farm north of Zeeland, ND, along Beaver Creek.  Tim graduated from Zeeland High School in 1975. He participated in every available sporting and choir activity he could.  After high school, Tim played college football for Bismarck Junior College, later continuing his education at North Dakota State School of Science.

On May 15, 1982, Tim married the love of his life, Rhonda Backhaus.  They made their home in Linton, ND, where they raised their four children. Pucky had a lifelong love of sports, which drove him to become an assistant coach for the Linton Lions football team.  If you asked Tim which accomplishment he was most proud of, he would have said the thirty plus years he spent coaching high school football at Linton High School and being a mentor to all the great kids on each and every team, many of whom he maintained lifelong friendships with.  He especially loved being able to coach his sons and attending countless activities of his children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.  Family ski trips with his children, and later grandchildren, were always looked forward to, and Tim was easy to spot on the slopes with a camcorder on his shoulder trying to capture every memory he could.  Golf held a special place in Tim's heart, and he instilled this love of the game into his children as they all participated on the Linton High School golf team.  Two highlights of his golf outings were getting a hole-in-one in a tournament and witnessing his daughter Lacy hitting a hole-in-one.  Throughout his life, Tim never lost his love of the country, working as a lineman for KEM Electric for forty years, and continuing to spend time on the family farm as well as helping his son-in-law with his farm work.  He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, served on the church council and sang with the Celebrate Group.  He was a member of the Lions Club and a Linton Country Club board member.  One of the most important things to say about Pucky was that once you met him you were never a stranger, as evidenced by his many friends across the county, the state, and even the country.

He is survived by Rhonda, his wife of 43 years, children: Chad (Whitney), Lacy (Mike) Brousseau, Travis, Hailey (Paul) Swanson, his grandsons: Bennett, Dylan, Hudson, Miles, Arlo, Kayce, Ryker; his sister,  Deb (Tom) Albrecht; his brothers: Cameron (Kriss), Joel (Becky), Jeff (Kelley); his brother-in-law: Bill (Vicki) Backhaus; his sisters-in-law: Julie Dockter, Debbie (Fred) Morgan, Cheryl (Les) Dale, and his many beloved nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Elaine; his brother, Kevin, and mother and father-in-law: Ronald and Evelyn Backhaus.

In an interview with his grandson Bennett reflecting on his life, Tim wanted people to know that it takes hard work to achieve the goals you want in life. He also said:

"Coaching isn't just about winning; it's about helping kids to set goals & have a positive attitude.

These are lessons that can be applied in sports and life"