Wanda Biesheuvel

Our world was rocked on July 3 when our lovely Wanda went home to be with our Lord. Funeral services for Wanda Biesheuvel, 58, Bismarck, will be held at 10:30 am Friday, July 11, at Bismarck Community Church, 1617 E Michigan Avenue, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm Thursday, July 10, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service and time of sharing will begin at 7:00 pm. Cremation has taken place and private interment will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. The funeral service will be live broadcasted and saved for later viewing at http://bismarckcc.org/watch/ Wanda Milton was born July 8, 1955 in Breckinridge, MN to Joseph Jr. "Skip" and Viola Hakanson Milton. She attended the Sheyenne country school near the family farm by McLeod, ND. She continued school from 3rd grade through high school at Wyndmere School in Wyndmere, ND graduating in 1973. That fall she attended the Association Free Lutheran Bible School & Seminary in Plymouth, MN. In 1975 she attended North Dakota State School of Science In Wahpeton, ND. She graduated from NDSSS with a degree in dental assisting in 1977. She was employed as a personal nanny to a family in Fergus Falls, MN. She moved to Bismarck, ND in 1978, taking a position with Dr. Ron Cox as a dental surgery assistant at the Q&R Clinic. In 1979 she began a 28 year career at the Smile Center with Dr. William and Becky Congdon. She truly loved working with her new family at the Smile Center. When the Congdons retired she became dental assistant with Dr. Richard Heib at the Dental Care Center. As the result of shoulder surgery she had to give up her prized chair side position and took a job at the front desk at the dental office of Dr. Arliss Brend. She was a lifelong member of the Dental Assisting National Board of certified dental assistants and in 2002 was the recipient of the DANB recognition of 25 years of certified dental assisting. Wanda was a selfless individual who had a strong conviction to God, country, family, friends and everyone she met. She called her friends and family religiously. She love the coffee or breakfast gatherings with them. She loved children even though health issues prevented her having any of her own. Wanda volunteered at Wednesday Community Night at BCC helping the children recite their Bible verses and directing them to their functions. She also volunteered for with Vacation Bible School. She also was part of the BCC Hospitality Team. The last three years her world revolved around her granddaughter, Chelsie Mae Hall. She loved to read to her, play with her, sing songs and bake imaginary cakes for Daddy and Boppa. After each bath Nanna sang the "Chelsie is a baby-bundle" song to the delight of that little girl. Wanda loved taking her along to church and everyone around her loved seeing Nanna and Chelsie. Wanda was an active founding member of the Remembering Kids In Divorce Settlements R-KIDS organization since 1994, testifying before the ND Legislature in defense of sane custody, visitation and child support laws. She firmly believed that the child was the center focal point. She loved to bake as evidenced by the stacks of cake pans on the counter, containers of treats in the refrigerator and drawers and drawers full of chocolate chips and other baking supplies in her pantry. Wanda loved yard work and toiled over her flower beds, the lawn and her gardens. She loved to sit on the patio by the fish pond and read. She also loved to sing and frequently was asked to sing special music. Wanda was a twenty-seven year member of the Bismarck Community Church worship team. She also participated in the BCC work groups for weddings and funerals. In 1989 Wanda and Patty Meidinger were asked to be part of a mission trip to Anville, KY to renovate a children's center. Pastor Don DeKok insisted a guy go along to "watch over the girls". He recruited Daniel Biesheuvel to go along, but the true intention was to hook Wanda and Dan up. On September 15, 1990 they were married at BCC by and elated Pastor DeKok who called it a "true mission success story". In May of 2014 a medical team was assembled for a mission trip to Jemo in Addis Abba, Ethiopia with Wanda providing dental care and education. She applied fluoride and taught over 200 children to brush their teeth with the help of her dear friend and interpreter, Natneal McKennon. She loved being with the staff, children and families in Jemo and was able to meet their sponsor child, Bereket and her mom's sponsor child, Johannes. It was a trip she was willing to make every year if possible. Wanda lived, loved, gardened, sang and baked at her home for 23 years when she passed away. She will be dearly missed by everyone, especially the recipients of her Christmas treats. She is proceeded in death by her grandparents, Joe and Lillian Milton and her father Joe "Skip" Milton, Jr. She is kindly looking over her husband Dan, his children, Annie and her husband Anthony Gailes and Ryan Biesheuvel, Ryan's fiancée, Samantha Dirk and especially his daughter Chelsie Mae along with all her friends and coworkers. In lieu of flowers please contribute to American Cancer Association, The Cowboy Up Ride Against Cancer www.cowboyupride.com/ and Locks of Love www.locksoflove.org to whom she previously and finally donated her hair in memory of her Aunt Ruthie Moxness.

Wanda Biesheuvel

July 8, 1955 - July 3, 2014