Ella Mae Netzer-Herda, 79, passed away peacefully at her home in Mandan surrounded by family on Friday, October 10, 2014, after losing her fight with melanoma cancer.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the United Church of Christ, 1200 E. Highland Acres Rd., Bismarck, ND, with Pastor Gretchen Deeg officiating, followed by lunch. She will be laid to rest at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND.
Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, ND, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Ella Mae was born on May 1, 1935 to Henry Wolff and Christina Burrer in Haynes, ND. In 1953, she graduated High School in Lemmon, SD. The following year she married Victor R. Netzer in Lemmon, SD. They shared a life together with their 5 children for 33 years. Ella married Peter V. Herda on June 30, 1990, Bismarck and resided in Mandan. Ella loved to spend time with her family and her ever growing wide circle of friends. She enjoyed traveling with family and the Good Neighbors Club through Dakota Community Bank, venturing as far as Australia, Dominican Republic, Canada, Alaska and around the US. Ella was an excellent cook, loved flowers and gardening and looked forward to socializing and participating in a variety of community games and activities. Ella lived by the motto: Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much. Ella will always be remembered for her laugh, her sweet disposition, her love for family, people and life.
Ella Mae is survived by her five children, Gerry (Jody) Netzer, Mandan, ND, Larry (Rene) Netzer,Schaumburg, Il, Darlene (Gene) Janas, Brooklyn, NY, Barbara (Steven) Redfield, Fargo, ND, Shirley (Steve) Wolf, Westminister, MD; 6 step-children, Alex (Jeanie) Herda, Longmont, CO, Steve (Karla) Herda, Mandan, ND, Dominick (Karen) Herda, Sacramento, CA, Anthony (Julia) Herda, Azusa, CA, Susan (Fred) Miller, Santa Clara, CA, Duncan (Susan) Herda, Sacramento, CA.
She is also survived by her 23 grandchildren, Laura Netzer, Aurora CO, Rachel (Cody) Chamblin, Egan, SD, Lindsay Netzer, Aurora, CO, Sarah (Ryan) Thomas, Fergus Falls, MN, Ashley Herda, Mandan, ND, Nathaniel (Brooklyn) Netzer, Polson, MT, Geran Herda, Plymouth, MN, Lindsey Herda, Mandan, ND, Brianna Netzer, Bismarck, ND, Scott Herda, Mandan, ND, Calvin Herda, Sacramento, CA, Conrad Herda, Sacramento, CA, Greg Herda, Sacramento, CA, Victoria Miller, Santa Clara, CA, Kaitlyn Miller, Santa Clara, CA, Truman Herda, Longmont, CO, Marne Herda, Sacramento, CA, Karly Herda, Sacramento, CA, Alexandra Miller, Santa Clara, CA, Tiger Herda, Azusa, CA.
She was blessed with 3 great-grandchildren, Gwenivere Salazar, Aurora, CO, Brinley Chamblin, Egan, SD,Orin Netzer, Polson, MT.
In fond memories of Ella Mae, and in lieu of flowers, memorials can be donated to St. Alexius Home Care & Hospice, Bismarck, ND and/or Bismarck United Church of Christ Musical Fund.