Eunice
Eunice Keller
d. April 8, 2014
Eunice V. Keller, 92, Mandan, died April 8, 2014 at Sanford Health, Bismarck.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, April 14, 2014 at First Lutheran Church, Mandan, with Reverend Lee Herberg officiating. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Sunday, April 13 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with a prayer service at 7 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Eunice was born November 2, 1921 in Schmidt, ND in rural Morton County to Mike and Margaret (Laubner) Schmidt. Raised and educated in Mandan, graduating in 1938. A love for the outdoors, Eunice enjoyed working with her father haying the river bottoms and riding horse to check the springs. Eunice also loved to dance, going to many barn dances. She attended Christies Hair Dressing School and worked as a hair stylist until marrying John G. Goertel on October 29, 1940. They made their home west of Mandan and had four sons. John was diagnosed with bone cancer and Eunice cared for him until his death on July 11, 1949. Eunice moved her family south of Mandan where she continued to ranch with the help of neighbors and friends. She got to know a kind neighbor, Elmer Keller, and they were married on August 17, 1950. They continued to ranch south of Mandan and had four more sons. Eunice and Elmer worked side by side. Raising eight boys proved Eunice to be a strong and giving woman. A dedicated wife and mother, she did many things for her family and took pride teaching each of her sons to dance. Elmer died September 22, 1970. Eunice became active in the VFW Women’s Auxiliary #1326 and served as President. She was very proud to receive the State VFW President Award. She volunteered for many years as a tour guide for the former Governor’s Mansion. Always a love for nature, Eunice enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and kept a beautiful yard. Traveling was a great passion for Eunice. She went on many camping trips with her boys. After they were grown she traveled to every state in the US as well as extensive travel abroad. In 2010 she moved to Liberty Heights in Mandan where everyone enjoyed the flower garden she created each year. In 2014 she went to Maple View East in Bismarck. A loving and generous woman she will be missed by those who knew and loved her.
Blessed to have shared her life are her sons, Michael Goertel (Cindy Mills) Edina, MN, Glen (Diana) Goertel, Fargo, Lowell (Maxine) Keller, Mandan, Lionel Keller, Mandan, Bryan (Cheryl) Keller, Mandan, and Lindsay Keller, Houston, TX; 17 grandchildren, Troy & Lonnie Goertel, Tim & Wayne Goertel, Michael J. Goertel, Mathew, Virginia, Mark, & Elizabeth Goertel, Bryce & Brent Keller, Michelle & Todd Keller, Lee & Travis Keller, & Emily & Kurt Keller; 18 great grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Janice Joslin, Marion, IA.
Eunice was preceded in death by both of her husbands; her parents; two sons, Ronald Goertel and John (Gloria) Goertel; grandson, Todd Goertel, brother, Arnold (Rita) Schmidt; and sister, Ethel (John) Eckroth.
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the ND Veterans Cemetery or First Lutheran Church of Mandan.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, April 14, 2014 at First Lutheran Church, Mandan, with Reverend Lee Herberg officiating. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Sunday, April 13 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with a prayer service at 7 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Eunice was born November 2, 1921 in Schmidt, ND in rural Morton County to Mike and Margaret (Laubner) Schmidt. Raised and educated in Mandan, graduating in 1938. A love for the outdoors, Eunice enjoyed working with her father haying the river bottoms and riding horse to check the springs. Eunice also loved to dance, going to many barn dances. She attended Christies Hair Dressing School and worked as a hair stylist until marrying John G. Goertel on October 29, 1940. They made their home west of Mandan and had four sons. John was diagnosed with bone cancer and Eunice cared for him until his death on July 11, 1949. Eunice moved her family south of Mandan where she continued to ranch with the help of neighbors and friends. She got to know a kind neighbor, Elmer Keller, and they were married on August 17, 1950. They continued to ranch south of Mandan and had four more sons. Eunice and Elmer worked side by side. Raising eight boys proved Eunice to be a strong and giving woman. A dedicated wife and mother, she did many things for her family and took pride teaching each of her sons to dance. Elmer died September 22, 1970. Eunice became active in the VFW Women’s Auxiliary #1326 and served as President. She was very proud to receive the State VFW President Award. She volunteered for many years as a tour guide for the former Governor’s Mansion. Always a love for nature, Eunice enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and kept a beautiful yard. Traveling was a great passion for Eunice. She went on many camping trips with her boys. After they were grown she traveled to every state in the US as well as extensive travel abroad. In 2010 she moved to Liberty Heights in Mandan where everyone enjoyed the flower garden she created each year. In 2014 she went to Maple View East in Bismarck. A loving and generous woman she will be missed by those who knew and loved her.
Blessed to have shared her life are her sons, Michael Goertel (Cindy Mills) Edina, MN, Glen (Diana) Goertel, Fargo, Lowell (Maxine) Keller, Mandan, Lionel Keller, Mandan, Bryan (Cheryl) Keller, Mandan, and Lindsay Keller, Houston, TX; 17 grandchildren, Troy & Lonnie Goertel, Tim & Wayne Goertel, Michael J. Goertel, Mathew, Virginia, Mark, & Elizabeth Goertel, Bryce & Brent Keller, Michelle & Todd Keller, Lee & Travis Keller, & Emily & Kurt Keller; 18 great grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Janice Joslin, Marion, IA.
Eunice was preceded in death by both of her husbands; her parents; two sons, Ronald Goertel and John (Gloria) Goertel; grandson, Todd Goertel, brother, Arnold (Rita) Schmidt; and sister, Ethel (John) Eckroth.
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the ND Veterans Cemetery or First Lutheran Church of Mandan.
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