Emma Peightal

Emma Peightal, a long-time resident of Bismarck, died December 21, 2004, at a Mandan care center, just 18 days shy of her 96th birthday. Services will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at McCabe United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Rick Fossum officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be 7-9 PM Monday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Emma Louise Kraft was born January 8, 1909 to Emmitt and Reuby Spaulding Kraft at the farm home of her uncle and aunt, John and Jessie Kraft, one mile west of Turtle Lake, ND. Her father was an early "free range" cattle rancher in the Crooked Lake area prior to homesteading three miles east of the lake where Emma grew up. She attended grade school in a small country school, and graduated from Turtle Lake High School in 1926. In her teen years, she worked summers on the farm, driving horse-drawn farm equipment, stacking and hauling grain bundles, stacking hay, etc. In 1926, she moved to Coleharbor with her family when her parents took over operation of what was to become Kraft Mercantile Store, and she worked in the store for a couple of years. She studied at Capital Commercial College in Bismarck in 1928-29, majoring in stenographic work. Emma married Elton Lionel Peightal, son of a Coleharbor farmer who farmed on what is now Mallard Island, on June 23, 1929, at her parents' home in Coleharbor. The newlyweds began married life farming in the Coleharbor area during the worst of the drought years, with a total crop failure. This led to a career as a mechanic/welder for Elton, and moves to Minot for three years, and then to Washington State searching for work during the depression. Emma picked and sorted fruit in the Yakima Valley before they moved to Seattle. There for a time, she worked as a "nanny/housekeeper" and then as a clerk in the Frederick & Nelson and Bon Marche department stores. Meanwhile, a son, Duane, was born on December 7, 1930, and a daughter, Shirley, arrived on October 23, 1935. Emma returned to North Dakota with the children in December, 1940, when Elton abandoned the family, and they were later divorced. She worked for her father, then the McLean County Treasurer, in the treasurer's office at Washburn, after her brother, Clinton, resigned the job to give her employment. She briefly returned to the Capital Commercial College in Bismarck to hone her skills, while her children lived with her parents. She obtained employment at the State Land Department in 1942, and moved the family to Bismarck. Emma retired in 1978 from her job as Title Clerk, having served under five Land Department Commissioners and five Governors. She was known to be a very meticulous and accurate worker in a field that required such skill. As a very responsible and loving mother, Emma dedicated her life to raising and educating her children as best she could with very lean resources. Her children remember her as an excellent cook, with pie making and divinity candy her specialties. She grew to love her job, and after the children left the nest she focused on the job and the many friends she made there and elsewhere, while continuing to be involved with her expanding family. She was able to proudly buy her first car, having walked or used buses to get around for many years. A woman of faith, she was a member of McCabe United Methodist Church since 1943, and was a charter member of the Methodist Women's Society of Christian Service. She continued to be active in United Methodist Women, when the group was renamed, until her health failed. She taught Sunday School for several years. She prized the many friendships that developed in the church group and at her work. She lamented that at her age she had outlived so many of them. She survived two bouts with cancer during the last 10 years, but entered a nursing home in 2003 suffering from dementia. Emma served as a Bismarck Hospital volunteer, and then as a member of the Medcenter One Auxiliary when the hospital was renamed, serving whenever she was at home in Bismarck, for about 18 years. She enjoyed traveling in her retirement, and wintered in Tucson, AZ, with her daughter for over 20 years. Emma is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Duane and Lois Peightal, Bismarck, ND; her daughter, Shirley Wicklund, Tucson, AZ; her grandchildren and spouses, David and Ligia Peightal, Mandan, ND, Stephen and Kathie Peightal, Carbondale, CO, Deanne and Rod Knutson, McKenzie, ND, Tamara and Wally Jacobson, Hayden Lake, ID, Marc and Norma Wicklund, Monroe, LA, and Dr. Cheryl and Mark John Haugo, Yuma, AZ; twelve great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces. She is also survived by her sister, Maxine Buehler, Bismarck, ND; and sisters-in-law, Ruth Kraft, Bremerton, WA, Ruth Kraft, Mesa, AZ, and Lori Kraft, Bismarck, ND. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emmitt and Reuby Kraft; her brothers, Emmitt, Clinton, Robert, and Loren Kraft; her sisters, Viola Merbach and Margaret Edmundson; three brothers-in-law, Bryan Edmundson, Christ Merbach, and Roger Buehler; one sister-in-law, Bernice Kraft; and her great-grandson, Matthew Peightal. The family would like to extend their appreciation to the caregivers at The Primrose Assisted Living apartments and the Medcenter One Care Center in Mandan, who cared for Emma as the cloud of dementia took its toll, and to Rose Mattson, who was such a loving and caring roommate at the care center. In lieu of flowers, Emma's family prefers memorials to McCabe United Methodist Church or Medcenter One Care Center.

Emma Peightal

January 8, 1909 - December 21, 2004