Sharon K. Wald, 71, Dickinson, died Friday, August 3, 2012 at her home. Sharon’s Funeral Liturgy will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Todd Kreitinger presiding. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be on Monday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service, and will continue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the church, with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m.
Sharon Mischel was born August 20, 1940, the oldest of five children to Goldie (Booke) and Frank Mischel, in Dickinson. She attended elementary school at St. Patrick’s and graduated high school in 1958 from the Villa Maria Academy, Frontenac, Minn.
Sharon grew up as the consummate cowgirl on the prairies and badlands of North Dakota. She loved riding horses and running cattle with her Grandpa Ben Booke. She also loved working with her father, Frank Mischel, at his funeral home, ministering to the needs of bereaved families. Sharon had a wild side, often amusing her kids with tales of her street racing victories over the local boys. The Holy Spirit soon inspired her to pursue more lofty and eternal pursuits.
Sharon attended Dickinson State Teachers College and graduated from the St. Alexius School of Medical Technology in Bismarck, earning her certification as a medical technologist. She was employed by St. Alexius Hospital as a lab technician in Bismarck when she met her future husband, Frank Wald. They married on September 4, 1961, residing primarily in Dickinson for the past 40 years. Sharon became a loving mother and homemaker, raising eight children. Sharon always extended her love and charity to the less fortunate and to those who needed assistance or sought her advice.
Sharon was a fearless champion of the unborn. She believed in the sanctity of human life, from conception through natural death. She was active in right-to-life issues, a founder of North Dakota Homefront, which promoted pro-life, pro-family, pro-American, Constitutional values and legislation.
Sharon was a faithful traditional Catholic, devoted to the Blessed Mother, praying the Rosary faithfully every day. She always sought to have all those she loved “do the right thing” — that is, to know, love, and serve God, to be happy with Him in this life and in Heaven.
Sharon attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dickinson and St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic church in Belfield.
Sharon knew she was blessed with a peaceful, joyful and dignified death at her home in Dickinson, on August 3rd, surrounded by her loving family. She fought a brief, but courageous, battle with cancer. Maintaining her sense of humor and strong will to the end, she confidently commended her soul into the loving arms of her merciful Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sharon is survived by her eight children: Kirk (Laura), Jo (Steve) Bogner, Mark (Maria), Laura (Michael) Gustafson, Cara (Larry) Pollock, Maria Boutrous, Michael, Joseph (Erica) and 13 grandchildren: Ben, Sophia, Raquel, Amelia, Celine, Olivia, Colette, Matthew, Christiane, Micah, Christopher and Nicole. Sharon is also survived by her four siblings: Tim Mischel, Marilyn Elmquist, Terrence Mischel and Geralyn Uribe, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Frank in May 2011.
The Wald family wishes to express their deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to the professional and compassionate physicians, nurses, staff and clergy of St. Alexius Hospital and Heartland Hospice. We also thank Sharon’s many wonderful relatives, friends, colleagues and well-wishers. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the ND Life League at http://www.ndlifeleague.com or call Tim Lindgren at (701) 793-8230.
