Cynthia M. Erdmann, 92, Hettinger, died Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at Western Horizons Health Center, Hettinger. Memorial services for Cynthia will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at the Hettinger Lutheran Church, with Rev. Kathleen Dettmann. Inurnment will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery.
Cynthia Marie Cole was born January 12, 1918, in Independence, Mo., the daughter of Hildreth Hall and Katherine Pearl (Krey) Cole. She was married to the late Armond O. Erdmann, mother of Roger B. (Suzy Farren) Erdmann, David M. (Gwen) Erdmann, and Thomas R. (Karen) Erdmann.
Cynthia married Armond Erdmann on August 13, 1939, in Kansas City, Mo., and after World War II, in 1946, came to farm in the Ellingson community in Perkins County, S.D. In 1958, Cynthia and Armond moved into Hettinger, where she helped Armond manage the Hettinger Air Service at the local airport. After Armond’s death in 1961, she worked as a bookkeeper for Hersrud’s Farm Supply, the Hettinger Co-Op Station, Erlandson Lumber, the Hettinger Lutheran Church, and as a court transcriber for Lyle Stewart, Attorney.
During various periods, Cynthia was a member of the Hettinger Park Board, the Swimming Pool Board, the Choral Society, Monday Club, and Lydia Circle. She was co-organizer of the Friends of the Library Association, the first Chairman of the Dakota Concert Association, and the first woman on the Hettinger Lutheran Church Board, as the Financial Secretary. She was presented with the 1978 North Dakota Council of the Arts and Humanities Governor’s Award, the Silver Feather Award, and also in 1978, she was selected by the North Dakota Homemakers’ Council to create needlepoint chair covers for the Dining Room in the Governor’s Mansion.
Known widely for her beautiful soprano singing voice, she participated in many musical events both as a soloist and member of ensembles and choirs, and was a member of the Hettinger Lutheran Church Choir for 25 years.
She is survived by the aforementioned 3 sons and spouses, 5 grandchildren, Kia (Zach) Hammill, Adam Erdmann, Rachael Erdmann, Jane Erdmann, and Jack Erdmann, and 2 nephews, Gregory (Susan) Erdmann, and Hollis Erdmann. She was preceded in death by her husband, Armond, and her brother, Raymond (Anna) Cole, both in 1961, and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Hazel and Kurt Erdmann, with whom she was very close.