Bismarck Neighbors: Obituaries published today
Read through the obituaries published in today's edition of the The Bismarck Tribune.
BEULAH — Elaine Walker, 80, daughter of Bertha and Albert Boeckel and wife of J. Victor Walker, Zap, died peacefully on April 19, 2018, at Knife River Care Center, Beulah.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. CDT Wednesday, April 25, at Prairie View Church of God, Beulah, with Pastor Daniel Sansot officiating. Burial will follow at Beulah City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. CDT Tuesday at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah.
Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.
Irene Paulson, 88, Bismarck, 9 a.m., St. Charles Catholic Church, Bowman. (Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home, Bowman)
Edward Koppinger, 91, Andover, Minn., 10 a.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, New England.
Alice Albrecht, 91, Bismarck, 10:30 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Steele. (Eastgate/Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck)
Magdaline Steinert, Bismarck, 11 a.m., Lutheran Church of the Cross, Bismarck. (Bismarck Funeral Home)
LaVonne Dill, 87, Mott, 11 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Mott. (Evanson Jensen Funeral Home, Mott)
Kent Flatness, 67, Bowman, 1 p.m., Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center Chapel, Bowman. (Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home, Bowman)
Evelyn Chase, 101, Moorhead, Minn., 5 p.m., Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead.
Curtis Rath, 74, Mandan, passed away on April 18, 2018, at his home after a short battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 23, at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, with The Rev. Chris Kadrmas as celebrant and The Rev. David Michael as concelebrant. Burial will be held at Mandan Union Cemetery following the service.
Visitation will be held 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Weigel Funeral Home, with a vigil service at 5 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Curtis was born Sept. 4, 1943, to Edward and Clara(Berg) Rath. He was raised and educated in Turtle Lake. After graduating in 1961, he attended Valley City State College where he earned a degree in teaching and was an outstanding shortstop for the VCSC baseball team. After college, he taught high school english in Max Bass for a year and at Mandan High School from 1967-1978. He managed Jerry’s Educated Minnows, later known as Southside Amoco, for many years before retiring.
Curt met his wife Debbie while they were teaching at Mandan High School. They were married June 5, 1973, and were blessed with two sons, Toby and Jamie. Curt’s love for baseball continued as he coached little league in Turtle Lake, played recreational softball and attended his sons’ softball games. He taught his sons and grandsons a deep love for fishing, hunting, and gardening. Curt took pride in his large garden at his cabin at Crooked Lake and supplied vegetables for his entire family. He was the mastermind behind the family campfires, carefully monitoring the structure and ignition! Curt also enjoyed making lead sinkers, working crossword puzzles, and watching Seinfeld and old westerns. His homemade ice cream was the joy of every family gathering and his deer sausage was the best.
Curt will be deeply missed by his wife of 44 years, Debbie, Mandan; sons, Toby Rath, Bismarck and Jamie (Lynn) Rath, Mandan; three grandchildren, Zachary, Alex and Tyler; two sisters, Doris Just, Mission, Texas, and Debbie (Robert) Boe, Turtle Lake; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Elton Just; and several aunts and uncles.
Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guest book and view tribute photos.
CAVALIER – Michael Slotto, 60.
DICKINSON – Finnly Simonieg, infant; Albert Lantz, 87.
EMERADO – Alfred Philo, 60.
GRAND FORKS – Patricia Bubach, 75.
HETTINGER – Beverly Krambeer, 62.
JAMESTOWN – Melford Anderson, 86; Thomas Divers, 64.
MOTT – LaVonne Dill, 87.
NEKOMA – Lucille Heck, 90.
NORTHWOOD – Richard Dokken, 70.
WALHALLA – Richard White, 53.
WEST FARGO – Shirley Johnson, 76.
MOTT — Memorial service for LaVonne Dill, 87, Mott, will be held at 11 a.m. MDT Saturday, April 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mott, with Pastor John Amundson officiating. Cremation has taken place and burial will be in Sunnyslope Cemetery, Mott.
LaVonne Margaret Syhre was born in Bowman, Nov. 19, 1930. She was the daughter of Valentin and Minnie (Halverson) Syhre. She grew up on the farm south of Scranton and attended rural school. At age 12, she graduated from the eighth grade as valedictorian of Bowman County rural schools and attended two years of high school in Bowman. In 1945, the family moved to Mott where she graduated from high school in 1947.
After graduation, she worked at Grosz Meat Market and Mott Equity Creamery. On Oct. 24, 1948, she married Lynn H. Dill at Christ Lutheran Church, Mott. She worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. for several years. On March 11, 1960, their daughter, Marlys Yvonne was born. In 1979, LaVonne went to work at the Commercial Bank of Mott and retired in 1992.
Lynn, LaVonne and Marlys enjoyed travelling, did so extensively, and especially enjoyed camping in the national parks and in Canada. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and bible school. She was a certified adult Bethel Bible Teacher, a volunteer church office secretary and was on the church council. LaVonne was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Women and was especially fond of the quilt project for Lutheran World Relief. She was an experienced seamstress and enjoyed needlework and word games, was an avid Bridge player and a big fan of the Minnesota Twins. She loved her family and treasured the time spent with them.
She is survived by her husband, Lynn, Mott; her daughter, Marlys Gordon, Fargo; her grandson, Michael Gordon, Richfield, Minn.; her grandson and his fiancé, Daniel Gordon and Erin LaVine, Richfield, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Valentin and Minnie Syhre; her brother and sister-in-law, Roy and Lenora Syhre; her brother and sister-in-law, James and Betty Syhre; her sister, Alice Wingate; and two stillborn babies.
Condolences may be made through the website www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com.
Sister Donna Johnson, 80, a member of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, passed into eternal life April 19, 2018, at a local care center.
Mass of Christian burial is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in the Chapel of Annunciation Monastery. A wake service is at 7 p.m. Monday, April 23, in the monastery chapel. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Monday at the monastery and continues until the time of the funeral.
Donna Gail was born Jan. 6, 1938, in Washburn. She was the second of eight children of L J (Chuck) and Alma (Krebsbach) Johnson.
After becoming an licensed practical nurse, she worked in the children’s department at CHI St. Alexius Health before joining Annunciation Monastery in 1959. As a novice, she received the name Sister Mary David and was known by that name for many years before she returned to her baptismal name of Donna. She made her monastic profession July 11, 1961.
Sister Donna had a heart for caring for the sick. An excellent nurse, she served more than 44 years in some capacity of nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Mary and a master’s degree in medical surgical nursing from Texas Women’s University.
She cared for the sick at CHI St. Alexius Health, CHI St. Alexius Health – Garrison, and the monastery health center. She also taught nursing for 25 years at the University of Mary. She anticipated the needs of the sick and attended to emergency situations in a calm, compassionate manner. With great patience she often waited hours with a sick sister in the emergency room, clinic or hospital.
But nursing wasn’t her only passion. As a Benedictine sister for 57 years, and sub-prioress of the community for three of those years, she valued prayer and community life.
She wrote: “I talk a lot to God and pray daily that I will be kind, gentle and honest. I try to live and act so that in all things God may be glorified.”
These were the hallmarks of her character.
Sister Donna, a cheerleader at heart, loved every kind of sport. A faithful presence at University of Mary games, she cheered on many generations of student athletes.
Her family was special to her. She loved her brother and sisters and they loved her. Family times were treasured by Sister Donna.
She is survived by four sisters, Wanda (Dewey) Oster, Bismarck, Maureen (Ben) Kautzman, Hettinger, Cheryl Wingerter, Ridgefield, Wash., Dianne Wolf, Beulah; one brother, Kirby (Linda), Mandan; and the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
She was preceded in death by an older sister, Kay, and a little brother, Lowell.
Memorials may be made to Annunciation Monastery.
Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Sister Donna and sign the online guest book.
Martin A. Wisdom, 99, died April 20, 2018 at Sunset Drive, Mandan.
Further arrangements are pending with Eastgate Funeral Service.
MENOKEN — Norma Williams, 90, Menoken, died April 19, 2018, at her home.
Cremation has taken place, services will be held at later date.
Norma Jones was born Jan. 3, 1928, to George and Rose (Heimbuch) Jones in Pollock, S.D.
She is survived by her daughter, Muriel Dienert, Menoken; four grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stan Williams; and one great-grandchild.
ABERDEEN, WASH. — Richard Kraiger, 81, retired Lutheran pastor and Aberdeen, Wash., resident, died on April 14, 2018.
Pastor Kraiger loved the outdoors and was an avid hiker, backpacker, hunter, fisherman and Nordic skier.
He was born Jan. 11, 1937, in Bell, Cali., to Russell Hladik and his wife Ellen nee Hays. His parents divorced before he was two, and when his mother married Harold Kraiger, he was adopted and officially given the Kraiger name.
Richard attended Bethel High School, graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1959, and went on to attend Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He wed Naomi Ruth Keller on June 12, 1960. They would have been married 58 years this June. After a yearlong internship in Baltimore, they returned to the seminary where Richard graduated in 1963. The family then moved to Germany for Richard’s graduate study at the University of Heidelberg. The Kraigers returned to the U.S. in 1969 in time to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.
Pastor Kraiger served the Lutheran congregations of New Leipzig, Wishek and Bowman in southwestern North Dakota for 20 years. In addition he served as an instructor, and later dean of faculty, at the Great Plains Institute of Theology, a continuing education program for clergy. Naomi and Richard moved to Alaska in 1989 where he served at Fairbanks Lutheran church from June 1, 1989, to June 1, 1999. He was diagnosed with advance aggressive prostate cancer in 1997 and treated with radiation therapies in the spring of 1998 at the University of California in San Francisco.
After retiring in 1999, he served part time at Delta Presbyterian and Faith Lutheran in Delta Junction 100 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. He initially began leading two separate services on Sunday, one for the Presbyterians and one for the Lutherans. After about a year of this ministry, the congregations decided to hold one service each Sunday, embracing components of each liturgy. During his tenure at Delta Junction, he was given an indefinite leave of absence to care for his mother in Arizona for the last months of her life.
In 2011, Richard and Naomi moved to Aberdeen to be near their younger daughter and her family. A highlight of the Kraiger’s residence in Aberdeen is the many great friends they made at Amazing Grace Lutheran.
He is survived by his wife, Naomi (Keller) Kraiger; children, Cyndee Kraiger Burris (Brett), Kris Kraiger (Ruby Dollins) and Anneliese Kraiger (Stephen Natwick); two brothers, Bill Kraiger and Edward (Bud) Hladik; three sisters, Joy (Hladik) Shipley, Jeanie (Hladick) Hinck and Merilyn Kraiger; and six grandchildren, Nathan Kraiger Olson and Alexa Burris, Elijah and Solange Kraiger, Jacob and Annika Natwick.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, 111 E. Fourth St., Aberdeen. A reception will follow. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Pacific Lutheran University, and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
To share memories or express condolences, please visit www.harrisonfamilymortuary.com. Harrison Family Mortuary is honored to assist the family.
Edwin Bender, 77, Bismarck, 10:30 a.m., Church of the Ascension, Bismarck. (Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck)
Lois Jean Patch, 94, Bismarck, 11 a.m., Evangel Church, Bismarck. (Bismarck Funeral Home)
Sister Donna Johnson, a member of Annunciation Monastery, died April 19, 2018. The funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in the monastery chapel. A wake service will be at 7 p.m. Monday, at the monastery. Further arrangements are pending with Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck.
Magdaline "Maggie" Steinert, child of God, passed away April 17, 2018, after a brief hospitalization and time spent in recovery. Visitation is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bismarck Funeral Home, and her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1004 East Highland Acres Road, Bismarck, with The Rev. Lisa Ahlness officiating.
Maggie was born March 17, 1921, to Jacob and Barbara (Sayler) Forderer, near Wishek. She was the youngest of 12 children, but the first in her family to complete high school and attend business school. She had to move away from home to do so, because the nearest high school was in Linton.
She married Edwin Steinert on Oct. 11, 1941, and the couple raised four daughters in a home filled with faith, love and laughter. The dining room table often had several "extra" kids joining the family for some of Maggie's generous cooking and cheerful company. Maggie will also be remembered as "that gift shop lady" from Cowan Drug and Gift Shop, whose remarkable memory about her customers and their collections lasted through the years. She had a tremendous faith, a hardworking spirit, and an open heart for hospitality. She loved God, her family and friends, her church family, and showed that in so many ways, whether it was crocheting caps for newborns, cross-stitching dish towels, baking a batch of a grandchild's favorite cookies, or sewing a daughter's wedding gown.
Maggie was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; and her beloved husband of 67 years, Edwin; as well as daughter, Peggy Hefter; and two sons-in-law, Dr. Barry Johnson and William Hefter.
She is survived by three daughters, Beverly (Gary) Hochhalter, Shakopee, Minn., LaVerne Johnson, Rapid City, S.D., and Deb Carpenter, Bismarck; six grandchildren, Michelle (Scott) Addyman, Eden Prairie, Minn., Sandy (Charles) Edwards, East Bethel, Minn., Andrew (Andrea Anderson) Johnson, Williston, Christopher (Jennifer) Johnson, Rapid City, Jennifer (Tony) Carlson, and Mathew (Tammy) Hefter, Glendale, Ariz.; nine great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, "adopted" daughters, and special friends. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Those wishing to sign the online register book or leave a message of condolence please go to www.bismarckfuneralhome.com.
Elaine Repnow, 86, Garrison, formerly of New Salem, passed away April 17, 2018, at the Benedictine Living Center in Garrison, with her family by her side.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 23, at Peace Church in New Salem, with The Rev. Joshua Eddy officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.
Elaine Seeger was born to John J. and Louise (Treude) Seeger in New Salem, May 27, 1931. She was raised and attended school 15 miles NW of New Salem in the Blue Grass area, and she graduated from New Salem High School in 1949. Elaine married Milton Repnow on Dec. 31, 1949. They lived in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota and settled down in New Salem in 1961 and then moved to Liberty Heights in Mandan in 2011. Elaine became a resident of Benedictine Living Center in Garrison in 2016. Elaine was a lifetime member of Peace Church in New Salem.
Elaine is survived by her two sons, Darrell (Sharilan) Repnow, Hazen, and Dan Repnow (Pam Duffy), Garrison; daughter-in-law, Bonnie Repnow, Bismarck; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Selma Moore, Bismarck; sisters-in-law, Iris Seeger, New Salem, Doris Repnow, Minot, and Violet Repnow, Bismarck; and many nieces and nephews.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Milton; son, Dennis Repnow; parents, John J. and Louise Seeger; brothers, Ewald and Ervin Seeger; sister, Ida Gappert and her husband, Fred Gappert; and brother-in-law, Leonard Moore.
The family prefers memorials to the donor’s choice.
(Buehler Larson Funeral Home, Mandan)
TURTLE LAKE -- Curtis Rath, 74, Turtle Lake, passed away April 18, 2018, at his home.
Arrangements are pending with Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan.
CAVALIER - Michael Slotto, 60.
FARGO - John Fagerholt, 33; Dale Klatt, 58; Carol Lingen, 77.
GARRISON - Vera Dilley, 90.
GRAND FORKS - Stephen Papillon, 67.
HETTINGER - Beverly Krambeer, 62.
JAMESTOWN - Melford Andersen, 86; Arthur Kauk, 74; Adeline Mitchell, 84; Douglas Mitchell, 86.
MINOT - Leona Bush, 82; Stanley Carlsten Jr., 72; Elizabeth May, 93.
PEMBINA - Marlene Johnson, 84.
VELVA - Frances Thomas, 98.
WALHALLA - Richard White, 53.
WEST FARGO - Shirley Johnson, 76.
Douglas E. Mitchell, 86, Jamestown, died April 12, 2018, at Ave Maria Village in Jamestown.
Douglas was born April 25, 1931, to Bryan and Jessie (Hoyt) Mitchell in Courtenay. He was raised on a farm in Courtenay and graduated from high school in 1950. After high school he worked for a short time at the Jamestown Coca-Cola plant and attended Wahpeton School of Science where he became a skilled welder. Doug began practicing his profession at Fargo Tank Company from 1951 to 1952. He enlisted in the United States Army on May 21, 1952. After his service, Doug was honorably discharged May 7, 1954.
Doug married Adeline Steiner in Mott on Oct. 11, 1954, at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church. They made their home in Spring Lake Park, Minn., where he worked for the Northern Pump Company as a lay out man, working on weaponry of America’s battleships. In 1965, he was hired by Raygo Manufacturing in Osseo, Minn., building heavy road equipment. He was hired because of his good work attitude, mechanical skills, and ability to follow through on a job. He traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada as a field representative repairing the vibratory rollers and other machines the company came to be known for. So good was the reputation and quality of the Raygo line of products, that they were acquired by the Caterpillar Company where he continued his trade until he retired in 1994. Retirement brought him and Adeline to Jamestown to enjoy the slower pace of the area near where he grew up.
Doug enjoyed deer hunting and fishing in both Minnesota and North Dakota with his oldest son, Marvin. They never missed a season of hunting and the freezer was always full of venison, which they processed together with Adeline’s help, support, and direction. In a book entitled “The Lean-To-Boys of Bigfork, Minnesota,” a chapter is devoted to his experiences hunting deer in 1959 with the boys during “one cold year!”
Doug was actively involved in his sons’ scouting activities and took pride in each attaining the rank of Eagle. He was also proud of his son, Norman’s dedication, devotion, and accomplishments as a Minnesota State High School Wrestling Champion and as a recipient of a University athletic scholarship.
Doug is survived by his wife of 63 years, Adeline, who passed away April 16, 2018; son, Marvin (Mary) Mitchell, Renton, Wash., and son, Norman (Nancy) Mitchell, St. Louis, Mo.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bryan and Jessie (Hoyt) Mitchell; sister, Anita Monson; and brother, Abner Mitchell.
Adeline “Addie” R. Mitchell, 84, Jamestown, died April 16, 2018, at Ave Maria Village in Jamestown.
Adeline Regina Steiner was born May 24, 1933, to Joseph and Magdalena Steiner. She was raised on a family farm 10 miles north of Mott. She went to country grade school and graduated from Bowman High School in 1951 in Bowman. She attended Interstate Business College in Fargo for a year and then worked at various office jobs in Fargo.
Adeline married Douglas Mitchell in Mott at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church on Oct. 11, 1954. They made their home in Spring Lake Park, Minn., and in 1994 retired to Jamestown, where they resided until they moved into the Heritage Centre.
Adeline was a devoted wife and mother. She is survived by sons, Marvin (Mary), Renton, Wash., and Norman (Nancy), St. Louis, Mo.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Agnes Koemstedt, Tillamook, Ore., Tina Rixen (Ray), New England; and brother, Mike (Aggie) Steiner, Helena, Mont.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Magdalena Steiner; husband, Douglas Mitchell; eight brothers, Leonard, Sam, Robert, Anton, Adam, Joseph, Valentine, and Lee; and three sisters, Margaret Dauenhauer, Emila Hirsch, and Martha Karls.
Adeline was the youngest of fifteen children and was loved and spoiled by her brothers and sisters! We will miss her smile, kindness, and gentleness. We love you Mom!
Mass of Christian burial: 10 a.m. today at the Good Shepherd Chapel, Ave Maria Village, Jamestown, with Fr. Robert Keller officiating.
Visitation: One hour prior to the Mass.
Interment for Adeline: 2 p.m. Saturday at the Sunnyslope Cemetery in Mott.
Interment for Douglas: 3 p.m. today at the North Dakota’s Veteran Cemetery, Mandan.
