Helga Semmel

Helga Semmel, 83, Bismarck, died February 15, 2013, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, February 20, at Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Thomas R. Marcis, Jr. and Rev. Douglas J.D. Bergelin officiating. Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tuesday, February 19, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Helga Mae was born May 8, 1929, in Bismarck, ND, the daughter of Andres "Victor" and Albena Boschee Westerlind. She grew up in Mercer on a farm seven miles north of town. Helga received her education in a one-room country school house north of Mercer. She lived in Mercer until she was 17-years-old, when she moved to Bismarck, and where she has lived her entire life. Helga married Adolph Semmel on September 11, 1952. Adolph passed away on December 15, 1990. Helga worked 24 years for Central Dakota Laundry. She was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck. She enjoyed cooking and baking, collecting many new recipes and even had one of her own recipes published, she also loved watching ice skating on TV. Helga is survived by her two sons, Gary and Donavan Kelly, Bismarck; two daughters, Darla Fetting, Mt. Vernon, WA, and Deeann Semmel, Minneapolis, MN; one step-son, Lewis Semmel, CO; two grandsons and one granddaughter-in-law, Jason and Denise Fetting, Rathdrum, ID, Jonathan Fetting, Mt. Vernon, WA; two great-grandsons, Tyler and Christopher Fetting; many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, and great-nieces and great-nephews. She is also survived by one sister, three brothers and one sister-in-law, Linnea Milligan, Manteca, CA, Palmer and Nelda Westerlind, Grand Marais, MN, Franklin Westerlind, Markham, IL, Arlo Westerlind, Grand Forks, ND; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; and her special friends, Clarissa and Rachel Kottre, Shirley Miller and Donella Michelson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Adolph; her parents; three sisters, Della, Gena, and Esther; one son-in-law, Steve "Chip" Fetting; her grandparents; sister-in-law and a brother-in-law; an aunt and uncle and a very special dog, Toby.

Helga Semmel

May 8, 1929 - February 15, 2013