Odessa M Zelmer

Odessa M. Zelmer, 85, Bismarck, died November 19, 2012, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. Services will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, November 23, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Curt Dikoff officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 21, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Parkway Funeral Service, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Odessa Marie Michelsen was born on December 6, 1926, in Regan, the daughter of William and Hazel Uhde Michelsen. She grew up on her family's farm outside of Regan and attended Regan Elementary School and Regan High School. Upon graduating high school at the age of 16, Odessa moved to Bismarck and during the war years she worked in Tennessee and in Bremerton, Washington at the Naval Ship Yard as a secretary. After the war she returned to Bismarck, working as a secretary. Odessa was always proud that she knew shorthand. On November 6, 1948, Odessa married Philip Zelmer, they were married for 32 years, until Philip's death in 1980. The couple made their home in Bismarck and Odessa became a homemaker raising their 5 children. She enjoyed baking, making quilts and craftwork of any and all kinds. She was always willing to teach others her crafting techniques, especially her children and grandchildren. Odessa enjoyed gardening and always had such a beautiful garden with her many plants and flowers. Odessa enjoyed spending time with her family, telling stories of growing up on the farm in Regan during the Depression and World War II and playing games with her children and grandchildren at the family's holiday feasts. She was a Cub Scouts den leader for a number of years, which she enjoyed. Odessa is survived by her children, two daughters, Connie Backhaus, Bismarck, and Carmen James VanVranken, Chaska, MN; three sons, Bruce Mary, Bismarck, Barry, Bend, OR, and Brian Velma, Bismarck; 15 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; one sister, Shirley Virgle Engstrom, Bismarck; and three brothers, Bill Michelsen, Wing, Ernie Michelsen, Moorhead, MN, and Robert Michelsen, Bismarck. She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip; her parents; her brother, Collin Michelsen; her son-in-law, Stan Backhaus; and her granddaughter, Peggy Willman. The family would like to extend a thank you to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center and AEGIS Therapies for all the care they provided Odessa. Also a very special thanks to Odessa's care givers during the past few years, her daughter-in-law, Mary, and Judy Carlen, because of them Odessa was able to stay in her own home as long as she did. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Alzheimer's Unit, 2425 Hillview Ave, Bismarck, ND, 58501.

Odessa M Zelmer

December 6, 1926 - November 19, 2012