Lillian Welder

Lillian Welder, 95, Bismarck, died January 21, 2014, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, January 25, at Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck, with Rev. Terry Wipf officiating. Burial will be held at 10:00 am Monday, January 27, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon – 7:00 pm Friday, January 24, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Lillian Schatz Welder was born September 26, 1918, near Zeeland, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Seiler Schatz. She grew up on the farm near Zeeland and attended school in Zeeland. She left home to work at St. Michael's Hospital in Grand Forks and Industrial Tool & Supply in Minneapolis. On December 27, 1945, she married Peter Welder at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Zeeland. In 1947, Pete and Lillian moved to their farm east of Zeeland, where they raised grain, cattle, hogs, poultry and provided a home for their six children. They lived there 47 years. During this time, Lillian partnered with Peter to keep the farm running smoothly, whether she was cooking, cleaning, canning, gardening, milking cows, or unloading hay bales. In 1993, they moved to Zeeland where they enjoyed their retirement with gardening, fishing trips to the Missouri River and frequent visits from their children and families. In 2005 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Peter died in December 2007. Lillian had a special place in her heart for the people of Zeeland and she looked forward to brunch on Sundays after church and lunch at the Senior Center. They, in turn, watched over her and always made sure she was okay. Lillian instilled a strong sense of family in her children and was never happier than when the children and grandchildren came to visit. Almost every Christmas with the family was celebrated at her house right up until she moved to Bismarck in 2010. In Bismarck she lived at Touchmark Retirement Community for over a year before her health required her to move to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. Lillian was a talented homemaker, a wonderful cook and baker, and enjoyed crocheting and embroidery. She loved spending time in her garden and enjoyed playing cards and Scrabble. Most of all, Lillian was a woman of faith. Her love for her family and everyone else was apparent in her actions as she guided her children, welcomed friends and relatives into her home and did whatever she could to help and serve others. Lillian was an active member of St. Andrew's Church, the Christian Mother's Society, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Zeeland Senior Center. She is survived by her children, Thomas and Jean O'Hara Welder of Bismarck; Anna Marie Welder of Fargo; Richard and Judi Krauter Welder of Alexandria, MN; Vernon and Joyce Fyllesvold Welder of Bismarck; Beverly and David Groth of Fargo; and Bonnie and Rick Siewert of Lincoln, NE; eight grandchildren, Kathryn Carl Dutchin, Sean Rachael Welder, Ryan Welder, Sarah Nathan Schmidt, Jennifer Vining, Lisa Wayne McConnell, Jessica Brooks Bernhagen, and Michael Siewert; six great-grandchildren, Sydney and Samantha Dutchin, Chase and Crew Schmidt, Corinne McConnell, and Burke Bernhagen; one brother, Aloys Schatz of Mandan; three sisters, Eugenia Welk of Bismarck, Rita Aberle of Strasburg, and Rosemary Kraft of Bismarck. She was preceded in death by her husband Peter; her parents; and ten brothers and sisters. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to either Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center or The North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery.

Lillian Welder

September 26, 1918 - January 21, 2014