Gertrude Kraft

Gertrude Julia (Kronberger) Kraft, 92, formerly of Solen and Selfridge, went to heaven on May 30, 2022 at Miller Point Nursing Home, Mandan ND.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM Friday, June 3, 2022 at Spirit of Life Catholic Church in Mandan.  Burial will follow in Mandan Union Cemetery.  The family invites you to lunch and fellowship at Spirit of Life church following the burial.

Gertie was born to John R. and Gertrude (Grundhauser) Kronberger on March 16, 1930 at Selfridge, the tenth of eleven children.  Gertie was raised and attended school in Selfridge.  In 1948 she married Raymond A. Kraft in Selfridge.  They farmed for a few years in the Selfridge area and soon started their own farm in the Solen area.  Together they raised seven children and built a successful farm and ranch operation with top quality black angus cattle.  Ray passed away in November 1989 and Gertie moved to Mandan and eventually sold the farm.

Gertie was a homemaker, a 4-H leader, and a stalwart in the Solen community and the Sacred Heart Church of Solen.  She will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a great cook.  She baked her own bread, a skill she taught to her daughters and granddaughters.   Chicken (or grouse or pheasant) in cream gravy was one of her specialties along with her garlicky bombushka and sandwich buns.  She raised a big garden on the farm, canned dozens of quarts of vegetables and made chokecherry syrup and jam from fruit picked on the farm.  Gertie’s famous Hobo Stew was the highlight of the meal she served to the crowd of neighbors who gathered to help with the work of branding the spring calves every year.

Gertie is survived by her brother, Matt Kronberger (age 97), Bismarck; her sister Ann Neidiger (age 96), Anaheim CA; her seven children, Gloria Jean Kraft, Lumberton NJ; Corinne (Will) McNamee, Tacoma WA; Wanda Loken, Grand Forks ND; Karen (Kelly) Fleck, Mandan; Randy (Becky) Kraft, Cross Lake MN; Ron (Rose) Kraft, Bismarck ND; and Doug (Brenda) Kraft, McKenzie ND; 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

At the age of 5 Gertie lost her mother and then at the age of 10 she also lost her father. She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Ray, five sisters and four brothers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Spirit of Life Church, 801 1st St SE, Mandan, ND 58554 to feed the less privileged.