Alvin K. Woodraska

Alvin Kenneth Woodraska Jr. of Harlan passed away on January 21, 2024 at Salem Lutheran Homes. Al was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota on November 14, 1934 to Alvin Woodraska Sr. and Elma (Nirk) Woodraska. He attended school in Aberdeen, South Dakota after which he joined the Air Force for five years and was stationed in Germany. He then attended barber school in Fargo, North Dakota where he met and married his future wife Dixie Backer on August 3, 1958. He barbered for ten years in Aberdeen and in 1969 bought the Harlan Drive-In Theatre which he ran for 17 years, also buying the Harlan Theatre in 1973 which he ran until retiring in 2005. Alvin is survived by his wife Dixie, children Terri (Larry) Duffer of Thaxton, MS, Sharon (Kevin) Lucke of Harlan and Ken (Marcia) Woodraska of Oelwein, IA, six grandchildren and a sister, Yvonne Barr of Sioux Falls, SD.
Al enjoyed carpentry, reading, golfing and traveling and investing in other businesses such as renovating his single screen theatre into a four-flex plus running a liquor store, video store, take-out pizza, tax business and basement arcade. Al was a visionary for promoting his businesses while also inventing new ideas to promote Harlan. He was "Uncle Al" for Saturday matinees, promoted Wednesday "Buck Night" and Sunday afternoon concerts with local bands at the Drive-In Theatre and will be remembered by many as the one who caught them sneaking into the Drive-In, telling them to get their feet off the seats at the theatre or seeing his orange “Harlan Theatre” van around town.